Action Quote by Abraham Lincoln
![“[I]f the policy of the Government, upon vital questions affecting, the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made, in ordinary litigation between parties in personal actions, the people will have ceased, to be their own rulers, having, to…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b03/abraham-lincoln-88_action_i-f-the-policy-of-the-government-upon-vi_426986.jpg)
“[I]f the policy of the Government, upon vital questions affecting, the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made, in ordinary litigation between parties in personal actions, the people will have ceased, to be their own rulers, having, to that extent, practically resigned their Government, into the hands of that eminent tribunal.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
If the government lets the Supreme Court decide all vital matters, people lose self‑rule and hand power to a distant tribunal.
In simple terms: Giving all power to courts removes people’s control.
Key Takeaway
Guard democratic decision‑making.
Themes
democracy
judicial power
citizen sovereignty
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- voting
- civic engagement
- legal reform
- public policy
Key Concepts
separation of powers
constitutional law
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure balanced power?
- What safeguards protect against judicial overreach?
A Different Perspective
Courts cannot replace elected representatives in all decisions.
![“[F]or the nature of government is to become a thing apart, an institution existing for its own sake, preying upon the people, and teaching whatever will tend to keep it secure in its seat.” quote by Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9e/voltairine-de-cleyre-13597_nature_f-or-the-nature-of-government-is-to-beco_2703218.jpg)
![“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)
