American slavery Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“What I do say is, that no man is good enough to govern another man, without that other's consent. I say this is the leading principle - the sheet anchor of American republicanism.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
Governance requires the governed's consent; without it, authority lacks legitimacy.
In simple terms: Consent is essential for legitimate rule.
Key Takeaway
Seek consent before leading.
Themes
politics
consent
legitimacy
republicanism
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy making
- community decisions
- leadership roles
Key Concepts
social contract
democratic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we ensure consent in complex societies?
- What happens when consent is absent?
A Different Perspective
Consent may be hard to obtain in diverse societies.
![“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)
