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
Our Declaration of Independence was held sacred by all and thought to include all; but now, to aid in making the bondage of the Negro universal and eternal, it is assailed, sneered at, construed, hawked at, and torn, till, if its framers could rise from their graves, they could not at all recognize it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on how the original values of freedom and equality in the Declaration of Independence have been distorted over time, particularly regarding the rights of Black people.
Abraham Lincoln laments how the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, which once represented a universal commitment to freedom and equality, have been corrupted and manipulated to justify the ongoing oppression of Black individuals. He suggests that if the framers of this historic document were to witness its current misuse, they would be unrecognizable and horrified by the betrayal of its fundamental principles.
Themes
Declaration Of IndependenceFreedomEqualityOppressionNegroLincoln
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on civil rights, one might reference Lincoln's thoughts on the Declaration to emphasize the ongoing struggle for equality.
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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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