Upon presenting herself, he told her that he had gone through the papers very carefully, and was obliged to tell her frankly that there was "not a peg" to hang her claim upon, and he could not conscientiously advise her to bring an action.
The lady was satisfied, and, thanking him, rose to go.

"Wait," said Lincoln, fumbling in his vest pocket; "here is the check you left with me." "But, Mr.Lincoln," returned the lady, "I think you have earned that." "No, no," he responded, handing it back to her; "that would not be right.

I can't take pay for doing my duty." To a would-be client who had carefully stated his case, to which Lincoln had listened with the closest attention, he said: "Yes, there is no reasonable doubt that I can gain your case for you.

I can set a whole neighborhood at loggerheads; I can distress a widowed mother and her six fatherless children, and thereby get for you six hundred dollars, which rightfully belongs, it appears to me, as much to the woman and her children as it does to you.

You must remember that some things that are _legally_ right are not _morally_ right.