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 are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining friendship and unity despite past conflicts.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln expresses a heartfelt message about transcending divisions and fostering unity among people, even when faced with passion and conflict. He asserts that while tensions may have strained relationships, it is crucial to hold onto the bonds of affection that connect individuals. Lincoln invokes the idea of 'better angels of our nature' to encourage a focus on compassion and understanding as a way to heal and strengthen those ties, highlighting the significance of collective memory and the potential for reconciliation.
Themes
FriendsAffectionUnityMemoryReconciliationLove
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used during a speech about healing divisions in a community.
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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