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
Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a profound disdain for the argument supporting slavery by suggesting that proponents should personally experience its consequences.
Abraham Lincoln's quote highlights the inherent hypocrisy in advocating for slavery; it challenges individuals who support such a brutal system to endure the same fate they advocate for others. This statement underscores the moral obligation to empathize with the suffering of others and serves as a critique of any ideology that seeks to dehumanize individuals based on arbitrary characteristics.
Themes
SlaveryHypocrisyEmpathyJusticeMoral Obligation
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about social justice, one might use this quote to challenge opposing views on human rights.
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.
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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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