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
Money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace & conspire against it in times of adversity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the corrupting influence of money on society, especially during peaceful and challenging times.
Abraham Lincoln's quote addresses the idea that financial influences exploit the nation, taking advantage of its stability and undermining it during crises. It serves as a cautionary reminder of how monetary power can manipulate governance and societal values, especially when adversity strikes.
Themes
MoneyPowerNationAdversityCorruption
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about economic reform, you could quote Lincoln to emphasize the dangers of unchecked financial influence.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, 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.
Abraham LincolnRead
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham LincolnRead
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
Similar quotes
Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.
George Jean NathanRead
If taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our having a legal representation where they are laid, are we not reduced from the character of free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves? We claim British rights not by charter only! We are born to them.
Samuel AdamsRead
Wherever despotism abounds, the sources of public information are the first to be brought under its control.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
If the Arab Spring was a large nail in the coffin of al-Qaeda's ideology, the death of bin Laden was an equally large nail in the coffin of al-Qaeda the organization.
Peter BergenRead
Freedom isn't free. It shouldn't be a bragging point that 'Oh, I don't get involved in politics,' as if that makes someone cleaner. No, that makes you derelict of duty in a republic. Liars and panderers in government would have a much harder time of it if so many people didn't insist on their right to remain ignorant and blindly agreeable.
Bill MaherRead
Democracy is an imperfect way of steering between the violence of anarchy and the violence of tyranny, with the least violence you can get away with.
Steven PinkerRead