Community Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“When Judge Douglas says that whoever, or whatever community, wants slaves, they have a right to have them, he is perfectly logical if there is nothing wrong in the institution; but if you admit that it is wrong, he cannot logically say that anybody has a right to do wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: House Judiciary Committee, 1865
If an institution is immoral, claiming a right to uphold it is illogical; moral truth overrides legal claims.
In simple terms: Wrongness invalidates rights claims.
Key Takeaway
Reject immoral rights.
Themes
ethics
law
justice
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- civil rights activism
- legal education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile law and morality?
- What defines a 'right' to do wrong?
A Different Perspective
Complexities of cultural relativism.
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