king features is the comparatively large
number of quotations, both from the Bible and from profane writings.
Although as a rule Lincoln quotes sparingly, this one speech contains
no fewer than twelve quotations, seven of these being from the Bible.
The only other speech that equals this one in the number of quotations
is the so-called Lost Speech of 1856, the authenticity of which is
doubtful. The very much shorter Second Inaugural, however, with its
four Bible quotations, has a larger proportionate number. Lincoln's
quotations seem to be suggested emotionally rather than intellectually.
This is indicated by the fact that the most emotional speeches contain
the greatest number of quotations. The first Inaugural, for example,
which is in the main a sober statement of principles, intended to quiet
rather than to excite passion, is four times as long as the emotional
Second Inaugural, but contains only one quotation to the four of the
other. We may note in this connection that almost exactly one-half of
the total number of quotations occurring in Lincoln's writings are
taken from the Bible, and that a large proportion of the profane
quotations are from Shakespeare. Lincoln was also fond of using
proverbial sayings, a habit that emphasized his character as a popular
or national writer. For most of his proverbs are local and many of
them are intensely homely. Quotations of this class occur at all
periods of his life, beginning with the first address, and they are
sometimes used in such unexpected places as official telegrams to
officers in the field. Strange to say, the maxim that is most
frequently associated with Lincoln's name cannot with any certainty be
regarded as having been used by him, either as a quotation or as an
original saying, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and
some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all
the time."

At the first regular Republican State Convention in Illinois, held at
Bloomington, May 29, 1856, Lincoln delivered an address on the public
issues of the day that roused the enthusiasm of his hearers to such a
degree that the reporters forgot to take notes and therefore failed to
furnish the text to their respective newspapers. In the course of time
it came to be known as the Lost Speech, and such, in the opinion of
many who were present on the occasion, it continued to be. Mr. W. C.
Whitney, a young lawyer from the neighboring town of Champ