Things Lincoln never said

[Steve Whitlock]

Thanks, Steve! It looks like this one, or a version of it, is likely a legitimate quote. I can check Herndon's Informants and see if the Dennis Hanks' version is in there.

I found the quote a little unusual as Francis B. Carpenter wrote that in 1864 Lincoln told him, "I never read an entire novel in my life!"

Roger,

I don't believe Mr Lincoln said "I never read an entire novel in my life!", and the other quote is still a maybe for me insofar as legitimacy is concerned. But as you say "a version of it" might be legit. I see a date of circa 1825 used by Sandburg in "Prairie Years", which would have Abe about 15-16, and not so eloquent.