--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From whence shall we expect the approach…" description: "\"From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abraham-lincoln-88_approach_from-whence-shall-we-expect-the-approach_3027698.png" --- # From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall… ![“From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abraham-lincoln-88_approach_from-whence-shall-we-expect-the-approach_3027698.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abraham-lincoln-88_approach_from-whence-shall-we-expect-the-approach_3027698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/abraham-lincoln-88_approach_from-whence-shall-we-expect-the-approach_3027698.png) > “From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.” [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 must take responsibility for its own destiny, not rely on external forces for survival **In simple terms:** Self‑reliance determines a nation's fate Key Takeaway Own your future or face ruin Themes self‑reliance national destiny responsibility Mood determined serious Type historical political When to use this quote - policy making - national defense - economic planning - civic education Key Concepts political philosophy determinism Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance self‑action with collective support? - What limits exist on a nation's ability to shape its fate? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individual agency may ignore systemic constraints ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Approach Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-danger-601477/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-shall-2906885/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Giants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giants/) [Live forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-forever/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Ohio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ohio/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Secession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secession/) [Shall Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-expect-285732/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-destruction-1144089/) ## Related quotes > [At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/at-what-point-then-is-the-approach-of-danger-to-be-expected-i-answer/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/between-the-great-things-we-cannot-do-and-the-small-things-we-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only thing predictable about you is that you consistently appear when you suppose I least expect it. 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Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/no-state-upon-its-own-mere-motion-can-lawfully-get-out-of-the-union/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-could-save-the-union-without-freeing-any-slave-i-would-do-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/my-paramount-object-in-this-struggle-is-to-save-the-union-and-is-not/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-hold-that-in-contemplation-of-universal-law-and-of-the-constitution/) [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 Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. 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