This blog is being posted on February 12th, 2019. As I grew up, this was known as “Lincoln’s Birthday” and February 22nd was known as “Washington’s Birthday.” Now we don’t recognize those unique days, but rather lump the honoring of all presidents into “President’s Day” which is celebrated on a Monday between those two days.
In honor of both Abraham Lincoln and the other presidents, posted below are quotes from many presidents about the Bible. Taking this book seriously has shaped my life more than any other source.
The first few quotes are from Lincoln. Each of these quotes, by people who are more honorable then I am, and who have accomplished much more than I have, is worth of contemplation. I offer them here with the hope that they may encourage you to consider the value of not only reading the Bible, but also of letting it “read” you.
Thank you, Tychicus
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“I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.” “In regard for this Great Book, I have this to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book.” “That I am not a member of any Christian church is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular….I do not think I could myself be brought to support a man for office whom I knew to be an open enemy of, or scoffer at, religion.” – Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President
“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
“Do not let anyone claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics.” – First President of the United States – George Washington
“I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands… the Bible makes the best people in the world.” – Thomas Jefferson, Third President
“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” – James Madison, Fourth President
“The Bible is the first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention. I speak as a man of the world…and I say to you, “Search the Scriptures.”” “My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising. It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day. It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.” – John Quincy Adams, Sixth President”
“That Book (the Bible), sir, is the Rock on which our Republic rests.” – Andrew Jackson, Seventh President
“Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties, write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book are we indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.” – Ulysses S. Grant, Eighteenth President
“If you take out of your statutes, your constitution, your family life all that is taken from the Sacred Book, what would there be left to bind society together?” – Benjamin Harrison, Twenty third President
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” – Theodore Roosevelt, Twenty sixth President
“When you have read the Bible, you know it is the word of God, because it is the key to your heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.” “I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask every man and woman in this audience that from this day on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great Book (the Bible).” “The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.” – Woodrow Wilson, Twenty eighth President
“The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions. The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” – Calvin Coolidge, Thirtieth President
“The whole inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life.”
“The study of the Bible is a post-graduate course in the richest library of human experience.” – Hebert Hoover, Thirty first President
“We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic. Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity.” – Franklin Roosevelt, Thirty second President
“The fundamental basis of this nation’s laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul…. If we don’t have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State!” – Harry Truman, Thirty third President
“Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.” “Inside the Bible’s pages lie all the answers to all of the problems man has ever known… It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds, and refresh our souls.” – Ronald Reagan, Fortieth President
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