Compounds Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of government policy, is an inseparable compound of the two, so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863 (paraphrased)
Moral judgments are rarely pure; policies blend good and evil, demanding continual assessment.
In simple terms: Policies mix good and bad, need constant review.
Key Takeaway
Continuously evaluate ethical balance.
Themes
ethics
policy
complexity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislation
- corporate governance
- environmental regulation
Key Concepts
moral ambiguity
public good
policy analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern the dominant moral weight?
- What criteria guide policy evaluation?
A Different Perspective
Some actions are clearly virtuous or vile.
![“Almost every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two [good and evil].” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/519/abraham-lincoln-88_compounds_almost-every-thing-especially-of-governm_2537691.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)
