Experiments Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“Our popular government has often been called an experiment. Two points in it our people have already settled, the successful establishing and the successful administering of it. One still remains, its successful maintenance against a formidable internal attempt to overthrow it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Nation, 1862
The quote highlights that a government is an ongoing experiment, successful in creation and administration, but its survival faces internal threats.
In simple terms: A government works but must guard against internal overthrow.
Key Takeaway
Protect institutions from internal threats.
Themes
government
experiment
stability
power
threats
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy implementation
- public administration
- civil unrest
Key Concepts
political theory
institutional resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure internal stability?
- What safeguards prevent internal coups?
A Different Perspective
Even well‑established systems can be vulnerable to internal sabotage.
![“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)
