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
We must free the slaves or be ourselves subdued.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the moral obligation to fight against oppression or face the consequences of submission.
Abraham Lincoln's quote reflects the profound belief in the necessity of promoting freedom and combating slavery. It conveys that the struggle for the liberation of enslaved individuals is not only a matter of justice but a direct reflection of one's own integrity and humanity; to ignore this fight is to risk becoming complicit in the very oppression that one aims to eliminate.
Themes
FreedomSlaveryJusticeCourageOppression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be powerful in a speech advocating for social justice.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, 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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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Remember, George, this is no time to go wobbly.
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I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle.
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You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.
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The traveller with empty pockets will sing in the thief 's face.
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