--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By such examples, by instances of the…" description: "\"“By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit, are encouraged to become lawless in practice;..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg" --- # By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such… ![“By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit, are encouraged to become lawless in practice; and having been used to no restraint, but dread of punishment, they thus become, absolutely unrestrained. -- Having ever regarded Government as…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg) > ““By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit, are encouraged to become lawless in practice; and having been used to no restraint, but dread of punishment, they thus become, absolutely unrestrained. -- Having ever regarded Government as their deadliest bane, they make a jubilee of the suspension of its operations; and pray for nothing so much, as its total annihilation. While, on the other hand, good men, men who love tranquility, who desire to abide by the laws, and enjoy their benefits, who would gladly spill their blood in the defense of their country; seeing their property destroyed; their families insulted, and their lives endangered; their persons injured; and seeing nothing in prospect that forebodes a change for the better; become tired of, and disgusted with, a Government that offers them no protection; and are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose. Thus, then, by the operation of this mobocractic spirit, which all must admit, is now abroad in the land, the strongest bulwark of any Government, and particularly of those constituted like ours, may effectually be broken down and destroyed -- I mean the attachment of the People.”” [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. When lawlessness goes unchecked, people lose faith in government, leading to radical change; good citizens become disillusioned and may support its downfall. **In simple terms:** Unchecked crime erodes trust, prompting revolt. Key Takeaway Protect law and justice to maintain societal stability. Themes law justice government social order revolution Mood concerned urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - community policing - judicial reform - public education - civic engagement Key Concepts political theory social contract civil unrest Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent lawlessness from spiraling? - How can governments rebuild trust after widespread injustice? A Different Perspective Reforms may be resisted by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change for the better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-for-the-better/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Life has a way of doing that; one minute everything makes sense, the next, things change. People get sick. Families break apart, your friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-murray/life-has-a-way-of-doing-that-one-minute-everything-makes-sense-the/) [Liz Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-murray/) > [Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/any-change-even-a-change-for-the-better-is-always-accompanied-by/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Most of the earth's inhabitants work to get by. They work because they have to. They didn't pick this or that kind of job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/most-of-the-earth-s-inhabitants-work-to-get-by-they-work-because-they/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [I am very optimistic because I have seen the changes in my lifetime. I have seen the world change for the better. We always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-very-optimistic-because-i-have-seen-the-changes-in-my-lifetime-i/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [The thing has already taken form in my mind before I start it. The first attempts are absolutely unbearable. I say this because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/the-thing-has-already-taken-form-in-my-mind-before-i-start-it-the/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [“You know you are wealthy when you lose count of the people whose lives you changed for the better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/you-know-you-are-wealthy-when-you-lose-count-of-the-people-whose/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“People who go through a heavy experience like that are changed men, like it or not,” he said. “They change for the better and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/people-who-go-through-a-heavy-experience-like-that-are-changed-men/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Not a change for the better in our human housekeeping has ever taken place that wise and good men have not opposed it-have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/not-a-change-for-the-better-in-our-human-housekeeping-has-ever-taken/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Working with the media remains an effective and essential way to raise issues, educate the public, and prod policy-makers and corporate leaders to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/working-with-the-media-remains-an-effective-and-essential-way-to/) [Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/) > [“No matter who and where you are in life... you absolutely have within you the power to positively change for the better. You always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/no-matter-who-and-where-you-are-in-life-you-absolutely-have-within/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“People have to be less internally focused and show more of a desire to help others in order to create change for the better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/people-have-to-be-less-internally-focused-and-show-more-of-a-desire/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“It all suddenly seemed like a hopeless fight, but so what? I told myself. What does it cost you to pretend that the can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-j-cogswell/it-all-suddenly-seemed-like-a-hopeless-fight-but-so-what-i-told/) [Kelly J. Cogswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-j-cogswell/) > [Start believing that things are going to change for the better. Not because you deserve it, but simply because God loves you that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-believing-that-things-are-going-to-change-for-the-better-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All I can promise the supporters of Reading is that I come in here and give 100%, I try to get the team successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-clarke/all-i-can-promise-the-supporters-of-reading-is-that-i-come-in-here/) [Steve Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-clarke/) ## 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 Change for the better quotes > [“Life has a way of doing that; one minute everything makes sense, the next, things change. People get sick. Families break apart, your friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-murray/life-has-a-way-of-doing-that-one-minute-everything-makes-sense-the/) [Liz Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-murray/) > [Start believing that things are going to change for the better. Not because you deserve it, but simply because God loves you that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-believing-that-things-are-going-to-change-for-the-better-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It all suddenly seemed like a hopeless fight, but so what? I told myself. What does it cost you to pretend that the can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-j-cogswell/it-all-suddenly-seemed-like-a-hopeless-fight-but-so-what-i-told/) [Kelly J. Cogswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-j-cogswell/) > [“People have to be less internally focused and show more of a desire to help others in order to create change for the better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/people-have-to-be-less-internally-focused-and-show-more-of-a-desire/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“No matter who and where you are in life... you absolutely have within you the power to positively change for the better. You always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/no-matter-who-and-where-you-are-in-life-you-absolutely-have-within/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Working with the media remains an effective and essential way to raise issues, educate the public, and prod policy-makers and corporate leaders to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/working-with-the-media-remains-an-effective-and-essential-way-to/) [Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Not a change for the better in our human housekeeping has ever taken place that wise and good men have not opposed it-have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/not-a-change-for-the-better-in-our-human-housekeeping-has-ever-taken/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“People who go through a heavy experience like that are changed men, like it or not,” he said. “They change for the better and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/people-who-go-through-a-heavy-experience-like-that-are-changed-men/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“You know you are wealthy when you lose count of the people whose lives you changed for the better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/you-know-you-are-wealthy-when-you-lose-count-of-the-people-whose/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [The thing has already taken form in my mind before I start it. The first attempts are absolutely unbearable. I say this because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/the-thing-has-already-taken-form-in-my-mind-before-i-start-it-the/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I am very optimistic because I have seen the changes in my lifetime. I have seen the world change for the better. We always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-very-optimistic-because-i-have-seen-the-changes-in-my-lifetime-i/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Most of the earth's inhabitants work to get by. They work because they have to. They didn't pick this or that kind of job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/most-of-the-earth-s-inhabitants-work-to-get-by-they-work-because-they/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/any-change-even-a-change-for-the-better-is-always-accompanied-by/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [All I can promise the supporters of Reading is that I come in here and give 100%, I try to get the team successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-clarke/all-i-can-promise-the-supporters-of-reading-is-that-i-come-in-here/) [Steve Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-clarke/) [Browse all 218 Change for the better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-for-the-better/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit, are encouraged to become lawless in practice; and having been used to no restraint, but dread of punishment, they thus become, absolutely unrestrained. -- Having ever regarded Government as their deadliest bane, they make a jubilee of the suspension of its operations; and pray for nothing so much, as its total annihilation. While, on the other hand, good men, men who love tranquility, who desire to abide by the laws, and enjoy their benefits, who would gladly spill their blood in the defense of their country; seeing their property destroyed; their families insulted, and their lives endangered; their persons injured; and seeing nothing in prospect that forebodes a change for the better; become tired of, and disgusted with, a Government that offers them no protection; and are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose. Thus, then, by the operation of this mobocractic spirit, which all must admit, is now abroad in the land, the strongest bulwark of any Government, and particularly of those constituted like ours, may effectually be broken down and destroyed -- I mean the attachment of the People.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-perpetrators-of-such-acts-going/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change for the better" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-perpetrators-of-such-acts-going/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/abraham-lincoln-88_change-for-the-bette_by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-per_725551.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By such examples, by instances of the perpetrators of such acts going unpunished, the lawless in spirit, are…” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“By such examples, by instances of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-perpetrators-of-such-acts-going/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/by-such-examples-by-instances-of-the-perpetrators-of-such-acts-going/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```