Abraham Lincoln Quotes

Mrs. Hayes has been from childhood a total abstainer. I was not a total abstainer when I became President. But the discussions which arose over the change at the President's house soon satisfied me that in this matter, if our example was to be useful, there was no half-way house for me. During the greater part of my term and at least for the last three years, I have been in practice and in theory a total-abstinence man, and I shall continue to be so. All statements inconsistent with the foregoing are without foundation.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

I promise ... to abstain from all kinds of intoxicating drink, unless used medically.

Abstinence from spirituous liquors is the best safeguard of morals and health.

I am not a member of any temperance society; but I am temperate, in this, that I don’t drink anything.

Since the creation of the world there has been no tyrant like Intemperance, and no slaves so cruelly treated as his.

An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men.

Teetotallers lack the sympathy and generosity of men that drink.

Of all vices, drinking is the most incompatible with greatness.

In his personal habits, Mr. Lincoln is as simple as a child…his food is plain and nutritious. He never drinks intoxicating liquors of any sort… He is not addicted to tobacco.

I can go eight days without a drink—but who wants to be a camel.

As regards the use of wine, remember that we drink to quench thirst, and that the limit of moderation is reached when the edge of the intellect is dulled. A boy should be brought up to avoid wine…. Your own countrymen, like all northern peoples, are, I know, sore offenders in this matter of eating and drinking. But I count upon your own innate self-respect to preserve you from such bad example, and to enable you to despise the sneers and complaints of those around you.

Lips that touch liquor shall never touch mine.

I don't believe in alcohol. It's a sort of a medicinal necessity for the human condition, none of that stuff. I'm not a gambling man.

I have never been drunk in my life, and I don't expect I ever will be.

I don't drink at all.

You don't hear about me being at parties, going out and gettin' drunk.

I won't touch alcohol.

I don't even drink.

Better belly burst than good liquor be lost.

I work very hard to keep on an even keel as far as alcohol is concerned.

All the mistakes I've ever made in my life have been when I've been drunk. I haven't made hardly any mistakes sober, ever, ever.

I am too much of a control freak to be a drinker.

I don't smoke and I don't drink alcohol.

I drink no more than a sponge.