--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A house divided against itself cannot…" description: "\"A house divided against itself cannot stand.\" I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/abraham-lincoln-88_belief_a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-st_2551618.png" --- # A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe… ![“A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/abraham-lincoln-88_belief_a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-st_2551618.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/abraham-lincoln-88_belief_a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-st_2551618.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/abraham-lincoln-88_belief_a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-st_2551618.png) > “A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation divided cannot survive; unity is essential for lasting freedom and stability. **In simple terms:** Division leads to collapse. Key Takeaway Strive for unity. Themes unity freedom political stability Mood somber hopeful Type historical political When to use this quote - government policy - social movements - legislative debates Key Concepts civil war national identity Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are necessary for unity? - How does division affect progress? A Different Perspective Compromise may require sacrificing some ideals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Cease Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease-divided-1526597/) [Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided/) [Divided Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided-thing-1526598/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-endure-1526599/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-divided/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-expect-the-union-to-be-dissolved-i-do-not-expect-the-house/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“We’re all united by grief, and somehow divided by the same thing. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/we-re-all-united-by-grief-and-somehow-divided-by-the-same-thing-my/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [I believe this Government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-this-government-cannot-endure-permanently-half-slave-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“He whose wisdom surpasses that of all philosophers, has declared that 'a house divided against itself cannot stand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-whose-wisdom-surpasses-that-of-all-philosophers-has-declared-that/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Without popular fear, no government would endure more than twenty-four hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/without-popular-fear-no-government-would-endure-more-than-twenty-four/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. —Mark 3:25”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/if-a-house-is-divided-against-itself-that-house-will-not-be-able-to/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [Belief in oneself is a crucial quality of leadership, because 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.' A leader who fluctuates back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/belief-in-oneself-is-a-crucial-quality-of-leadership-because-a-house/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [Michael Moore's first big film "Roger & Me" has an extremely powerful scene in which a family in Flint, Michigan is evicted right around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solly-granatstein/michael-moore-s-first-big-film-roger-me-has-an-extremely-powerful/) [Solly Granatstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solly-granatstein/) > [If a house divided cannot stand, a brain divided cannot function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julias-cattail/if-a-house-divided-cannot-stand-a-brain-divided-cannot-function/) [Julias Cattail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julias-cattail/) > [Our crisis of the house divided was a Christian civil war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/our-crisis-of-the-house-divided-was-a-christian-civil-war/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [We have a war on women, race wars. Income wars, age wars, religious wars, anything you can imagine. A house divided against itself cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-have-a-war-on-women-race-wars-income-wars-age-wars-religious-wars/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Senator Douglas holds, we know, that a man may rightfully be wiser today than he was yesterday - that he may rightfully change when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/senator-douglas-holds-we-know-that-a-man-may-rightfully-be-wiser/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We shall not fail - if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate, or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-shall-not-fail-if-we-stand-firm-we-shall-not-fail-wise-counsels/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A house divided against itself cannot stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-stand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“A house divided cannot stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-house-divided-cannot-stand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. 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