Can not Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“But the proclamation, as law, either is valid, or is not valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction. If it is valid, it can not be retracted, any more than the dead can be brought to life.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown source, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, 19th century
Legal declarations are immutable: if a law is valid it cannot be undone, and if invalid it requires no correction.
In simple terms: Law is final once valid; invalid law needs no fix.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the permanence of valid decisions and the futility of revisiting invalid ones.
Themes
law
finality
authority
Mood
serious
thoughtful
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- legislative processes
- policy implementation
Key Concepts
jurisprudence
immutability
Questions to Reflect On
- Should laws ever be revisited?
- How to address unjust but valid laws?
A Different Perspective
Legal systems may need mechanisms for amendment despite claims of immutability.
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