Another man Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“No man is good enough to govern another man without the other's consent.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
Governance requires the governed's voluntary agreement; coercion lacks legitimacy.
In simple terms: Rule needs consent.
Key Takeaway
Seek consent before leading.
Themes
politics
ethics
authority
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- government formation
- community decisions
- leadership negotiations
Key Concepts
social contract
legitimacy
consent
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure consent in collective decisions?
- When is authority justified without explicit consent?
A Different Perspective
Consent may be hard to obtain in emergencies.
![“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)
