Assertion Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown (misattributed) – likely a paraphrase of philosophical ethics
Asserting something without knowing its truth is dishonest, even if it turns out true.
In simple terms: Don’t claim without knowing truth; honesty matters.
Key Takeaway
Verify facts before asserting.
Themes
honesty
knowledge
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- academic work
- journalism
- public speaking
- legal testimony
Key Concepts
epistemology
integrity
responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle uncertainty before speaking?
- What responsibilities do you have when sharing information?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex truth‑seeking processes.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
