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
If ever this free people, if this Government itself is ever utterly demoralized, it will come from this incessant human wriggle and struggle for office, which is but a way to live without work.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Lincoln warns that a government's corruption and moral decay may stem from people seeking power for personal gain rather than contributing meaningfully to society.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln reflects on the potential dangers to a democratic society when individuals prioritize their ambition and personal gain over genuine service to the public. He suggests that when people seek office solely for power, without commitment to work or integrity, it can lead to a moral decline in both the government and its citizens, ultimately damaging the fabric of democracy itself.
Themes
DemocracyGovernmentCorruptionIntegrityServiceAmbition
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate, to illustrate the importance of integrity in leadership.
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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