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
That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ans sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thence forward, and forever free.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote announces the emancipation of enslaved individuals in the United States during the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln's statement marks a pivotal moment in American history, signifying the legal end of slavery in states that were in rebellion against the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation aimed not only to free enslaved individuals but also to redefine the purpose of the Civil War, emphasizing liberty and equality as core American values.
Themes
EmancipationFreedomSlaveryCivil WarEquality
In practice
Example use cases
During a civil rights discussion, to highlight the importance of fighting for equality.
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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