Lincoln Hall Project
Quote Panels of Lincoln Hall
Along the north and south walls of Lincoln Hall, 10 original quote panels, each flanked by two medallion portraits of men who were important in Lincoln’s life, were inscribed by 1911. The north side has portraits of Illinois leaders and the south side has national leaders. The quotes were chosen for how they reflected an important aspect or incident in Lincoln’s life, and also for their length so the panels were uniform. Ten more quote panels were added in 1929, but the portrait shields bracketing the quotes were left blank.
Grab the arrow below and scroll to the right to view the 20 portrait medallions and 20 quote panels.
Lyman Trumbull, U.S. Senator from Illinois, cowrote 13th Amendment abolishing slavery.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley, editor and ally/critic of Lincoln, in 1862.
“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union and is not either to save or to destroy slavery.”
Stephen Douglas, an opponent prior to the Civil War, but later a supporter of the Union.
John Palmer, Civil War general and key Lincoln political supporter.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s message to Congress in 1862.
“In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free—honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve.”
Richard Yates, governor of Illinois during the Civil War.
Richard Oglesby, Civil War general and later governor and U.S. Senator for Illinois.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s letter to James Conkling, 1863.
“The signs look better. The father of waters again goes unvexed to the sea. Thanks to the great Northwest for it.”
John Logan, Civil War general who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Owen Lovejoy, journalist and legislator who helped run the Underground Railroad.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, 1863.
“That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Gustavus Koerner, friend and advisor to Lincoln.
David Davis, U.S. Senator, Supreme Court justice, and close friend of Lincoln.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s inaugural address in 1865.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”
Joseph Medill, managing editor of Chicago Tribune, supporter of Lincoln’s presidency bid.
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s annual message to Congress in 1861.
“No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty, none less inclined to take or touch aught which they have not honestly earned.”
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s letter to Erastus Corning and others in 1863.
“The man who stands by and says nothing when the peril of his government is discussed cannot be misunderstood.”
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s speech to the Indiana 12th Regiment in 1862.
“It is upon the brave hearts and strong arms of the people of the country that our reliance has been placed in support of free government and free institutions.”
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s letter to Eliza P. Gurney, member of the Friends Society near Atlantic City, N.J., in 1864.
“The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance.”
A quote on the building’s north side from Lincoln’s speech at Springfield, Ill., in 1857.
“Judicial decisions are of greater or less authority as precedents, according to circumstances.”
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech to the Sub-Treasury in 1839.
“Let none falter who thinks he is right...”
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech to the Young Man’s Lyceum in Springfield, Ill., 1838.
“Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children’s liberty.”
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s address before the State Agricultural Society, Milwaukee, Wisc., in 1859.
“Free labor insists on universal education.”
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech at Peoria in 1854.
“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s letter to the Hon. James N. Brown, of Springfield, Oct. 18, 1858.
“I believe the declaration that ‘all men are created equal’ is the great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest.”
Horace Greeley, editor and ally/critic of Lincoln.
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech at Peoria, Ill., in 1854.
“Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man’s nature—opposition to it, in his love of justice.”
Jonathan Turner, an educational reformer in Illinois who helped establish the U of I.
Charles Adams, Lincoln’s ambassador to Britain.
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech in Springfield, Ill., in 1858.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.”
Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator who worked on foreign affairs and abolishing slavery.
David Farragut, flag officer of the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s speech to the Cooper Institute in 1860.
“Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”
Ulysses S. Grant, General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army at the conclusion of the Civil War.
Gideon Welles, Lincoln’s Secretary of the U.S. Navy in the Civil War.
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s first inaugural address in 1861.
“I hold that, in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution, the union of these states is perpetual.”
Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War through most of the Civil War.
Salmon Chase, Lincoln’s Treasury Secretary and U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
A quote on the building’s south side from Lincoln’s first inaugural address in 1861.
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”
William Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State.