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
The slave-breeders and slave-traders, are a small, odious and detested class, among you; and yet in politics, they dictate the course of all of you, and are as completely your masters, as you are the master of your own negroes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the influence of a morally reprehensible class on society and politics.
Abraham Lincoln's quote highlights the paradox of political power held by a minority group that profits from an abhorrent practice, slavery. It emphasizes that while this group is despised by the majority, they wield significant control over societal decisions, illustrating the moral implications of political dynamics and ethical responsibility within a community.
Themes
SlaveryPoliticsPowerMoralityInjustice
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the legacy of slavery in America.
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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