Poetry and related

Understanding the spirit of our institutions to aim at the elevation of men, I am opposed to whatever tends to  degrade them. image and quote found on page http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln#1830s free to use license  Text is available under the  Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License above image in the public domain

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. Address Delivered in Candidacy for the State Legislature.  (9 March 1832). I found this quote on page: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln#1830s