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
Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Republican administration would, directly, or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them, about their slaves? If they do, I wish to assure you, as once a friend, and still, I hope, not an enemy, that there is no cause for such fears.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote addresses fears regarding interference with slavery and attempts to reassure the South about the intentions of a Republican administration.
Abraham Lincoln's quote reflects the anxieties of Southern slaveholders concerning the potential impact of a Republican administration on slavery. He aims to allay these fears by assuring them that there is no intention to interfere with their slaves or their practices, emphasizing a need for understanding and dialogue amidst a charged political environment.
Themes
SlaveryPoliticsFearAssuranceUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the historical concerns of slaveholders during the Civil War.
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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