“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

“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.”

“In your temporary failure there is no evidence that you may not yet be a better scholar, and a more successful man in the great struggle of life, than many others, who have entered college more easily.”

“I am not concerned that you have fallen -- I am concerned that you arise.”

“I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular govenment is not an absurdity. We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the govenment whenever they choose. If we fail it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves.”

“A universal feeling, whether well or ill-founded cannot be safely disregarded.”

“I know not how to aid you, save in the assurance of one of mature age, and much severe experience, that you can not fail, if you resolutely determine, that you will not.”