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
I think that slavery is wrong, morally, socially and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Abraham Lincoln expresses his strong moral stance against slavery and his desire for its end.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln articulates a firm belief that slavery is fundamentally wrong on multiple levels – moral, social, and political. He advocates for the cessation of slavery's spread across the United States and expresses a hope that it will eventually be eradicated entirely, reflecting his commitment to human rights and dignity.
Themes
SlaveryMoralityHuman RightsAbolitionPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about civil rights to emphasize moral values.
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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