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Bible Quote by Abraham Lincoln

“To read in the Bible, as the word of God himself, that "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, ["] and to preach there-from that, "In the sweat of other mans faces shalt thou eat bread," to my mind can scarcely be reconciled with honest sincerity.” quote by Abraham Lincoln
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“To read in the Bible, as the word of God himself, that "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, ["] and to preach there-from that, "In the sweat of other mans faces shalt thou eat bread," to my mind can scarcely be reconciled with honest sincerity.”

Abraham Lincoln

About This Quote

Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863

Lincoln critiques the hypocrisy of using religious authority to justify exploitation, highlighting a conflict between moral preaching and personal gain.

In simple terms: He sees a contradiction in preaching honesty while profiting from others' labor.

Key Takeaway

Beware of using faith to excuse exploitation.

Themes

hypocrisy religion ethics justice

Mood

critical reflective

Type

ethical political

When to use this quote

  • political speeches
  • religious sermons
  • labor negotiations
  • public debates

Key Concepts

Moral inconsistency exploitation social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you reconcile personal benefit with moral preaching?
  • When does religious rhetoric become a tool for exploitation?
A Different Perspective

Religious arguments can be misused to mask self‑interest.

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