Abraham Lincoln Speech

“My friends: No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

In this speech Lincoln refers to his friends in an affective and nostalgic way, using phrases like: "sadness at this parting" and "kindness of these people". Even though he became president of the United States, his words are humble to the people and the town in which he lived: "I owe everything", he also shows the pain he suffered "and one is buried". Next he talks about the difficulty of his duty "with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington", by saying this he is comparing himself with a national hero, something that may be risky because it is the people gives the one that gives the importance to the leaders, not themselves. He continues his speech referring to the uncertainty of his future, "Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed". In his nine line's speech four are used to talk about god. He probably did this to show to the people that he has the same values that they do, because in those times religion was far more important than now, and a man with doubtful beliefs wasn't likely to prevail.