ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865) was the 16th President of the United States.

With quiet words of wisdom, and a passion for social justice, Abraham Lincoln inspired citizens everywhere with his willingness to moderate—and shift—his views on slavery, and to perform astonishing acts of courage and integrity.

To an unprecedented extent, the very survival of the republic depended on the judgment and creativity of the untested country lawyer who had been elected president without ever having held an administrative position.

Thus did he help awaken one of the most significant movements in the history of mankind: the abolition of slavery in the United States.

The remarkable bravery and profound moral conviction of Abraham Lincoln live on in his heartfelt speeches.

They are a veritable primer in the principles and practice of personal courage, and the everlasting legacy of a truly extraordinary man.