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
Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in course of ultimate extinction, or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States - old as well as new - North as well as South.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the crucial turning point in the struggle against slavery, suggesting that action must be taken to either halt its spread or risk its legitimacy becoming widespread.
Abraham Lincoln's quote emphasizes the critical juncture in the American societal view on slavery, where the future of this institution hinged on the actions taken by either its opponents or advocates. He warns that if slavery's opponents fail to halt its expansion, it will gain legal acceptance across all states, thereby legitimizing an institution that many believed was morally and ethically wrong. This underscores the importance of proactive measures in social justice movements, reflecting the ongoing battle between progress and regression in society.
Themes
SlaveryChangeJusticeActionAdvocacy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech addressing the importance of civil rights activism.
More from Abraham Lincoln
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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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