Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this; secured to the inventor, for a limited time, the exclusive use of his invention; and thereby added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius, in the discovery and production of new and useful things.

Abraham Lincoln

Categorized in : Country Science Men

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

Abraham Lincoln

freedom wisdom religious

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.

Abraham Lincoln

money country hands

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

Abraham Lincoln

positive happiness inspirational

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.

Abraham Lincoln

democracies-have freedom men

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

Abraham Lincoln

basketball inspirational peace

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.

Abraham Lincoln

wisdom leadership god

The most reliable way to predict the future is to create it.

Abraham Lincoln

uplifting positive being-happy

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

wisdom leadership inspirational

It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.

Abraham Lincoln

silent duty sin

Behind the cloud the sun is still shining.

Abraham Lincoln

encouraging uplifting healing

Nations do not die from invasion; they die from internal rottenness.

Abraham Lincoln

internals invasion dies

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

sarcastic life funny

The best time to stop a fight is before it starts.

Abraham Lincoln

fighting enemy way

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

Abraham Lincoln

leadership motivational inspirational

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.

Abraham Lincoln

clever best-friend friendship

Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will.

Abraham Lincoln

gods-will believe

You must remember that some things legally right are not morally right.

Abraham Lincoln

remember

A statesman is he who thinks in the future generations, and a politician is he who thinks in the upcoming elections.

Abraham Lincoln

election generations thinking

Marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory.

Abraham Lincoln

cynical marriage relationship

If we exchange one dollar, we both have one dollar each. But if we exchange one good thought, we both have two good thoughts

Abraham Lincoln

good-thoughts dollars two