Can not Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“Near eighty years ago we began by declaring that all men are created equal; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration, that for SOME men to enslave OTHERS is a "sacred right of self-government." These principles can not stand together. They are as opposite as God and mammon; and whoever holds to the one, must despise the other.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
Lincoln argues that equality and slavery are mutually exclusive principles that cannot coexist.
In simple terms: Equality and slavery clash.
Reject slavery, uphold equality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- civil rights activism
- legal reform
- education
- public policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile past ideals with present realities?
- What policies best embody true equality?
The quote reflects historical context; modern nuances differ.