I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
I did say, at Chicago, in my speech there, that I do wish to see the spread of slavery arrested and to see it placed where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in course of ultimate extinction.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Lincoln advocates for the end of slavery and a shift in public perception towards its extinction.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln expresses his desire for the abolition of slavery and emphasizes the importance of changing societal views. He acknowledges that, in order for true progress to occur, the public must believe that slavery is on a path to extinction, highlighting the need for both legal and ideological shifts in order to achieve freedom and equality.
Themes
SlaveryFreedomChangeBeliefProgress
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech advocating for civil rights and social justice.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes →Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
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For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
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And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
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