But he always reserved a point upon which he claimed a decision in his favor, and his concessions magnified the strength of his claim.

He rarely failed in gaining his cases in court." The special characteristics of Lincoln's practice at the bar are thus ably summed up: "He did not make a specialty of criminal cases, but was engaged frequently in them.

He could not be called a great lawyer, measured by the extent of his acquirement of legal knowledge; he was not an encyclopaedia of cases; but in the clear perception of legal principles, with natural capacity to apply them, he had great ability.
He was not a case lawyer, but a lawyer who dealt in the deep philosophy of the law.

He always knew the cases which might be quoted as absolute authority, but beyond that he contented himself in the application and discussion of general principles.

In the trial of a case he moved cautiously.