Deeds Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“Never stir up litigation, a worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this, who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
He warns that obsessively hunting for legal flaws can corrupt character, suggesting such behavior is akin to a fiendish pursuit of profit over justice.
In simple terms: Focusing on finding legal defects for personal gain is morally corrupt.
Key Takeaway
Avoid exploiting legal loopholes for selfish profit.
Themes
justice
ethics
law
corruption
greed
Mood
cautious
critical
serious
Type
warning
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Legal practice
- political leadership
- business conduct
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
legal ethics
integrity
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to scrutinize titles for genuine errors?
- How do we balance vigilance with integrity?
A Different Perspective
The warning may be overstated for modern contexts where due diligence is necessary.
![“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)
