--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am for liberty of conscience in its…" description: "\"I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest, and highest sense. But I cannot give liberty of conscience to the pope and his followers, the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/abraham-lincoln-88_atheism_i-am-for-liberty-of-conscience-in-its-no_3201935.png" --- # I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest… ![“I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest, and highest sense. But I cannot give liberty of conscience to the pope and his followers, the papists, so long as they tell me, through all their councils, theologians, and canon laws that their conscience orders them to burn my wife…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/abraham-lincoln-88_atheism_i-am-for-liberty-of-conscience-in-its-no_3201935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/abraham-lincoln-88_atheism_i-am-for-liberty-of-conscience-in-its-no_3201935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/abraham-lincoln-88_atheism_i-am-for-liberty-of-conscience-in-its-no_3201935.png) > “I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest, and highest sense. But I cannot give liberty of conscience to the pope and his followers, the papists, so long as they tell me, through all their councils, theologians, and canon laws that their conscience orders them to burn my wife, strangle my children, and cut my throat when they find their opportunity.” [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. He argues that religious liberty cannot extend to doctrines that threaten personal safety; conscience must be protected from harmful commands. **In simple terms:** Liberty of conscience stops where it endangers life. Key Takeaway Protect personal safety over harmful religious demands. Themes freedom religion ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legal debates - policy making - human rights advocacy - family protection Key Concepts human rights law moral limits Questions to Reflect On - When should society limit religious directives? - How to protect individuals without infringing belief? A Different Perspective Balancing religious freedom with public safety is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Canon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canon/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [I shall drink to the Pope, if you please, still, to conscience first, and to the Pope afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/i-shall-drink-to-the-pope-if-you-please-still-to-conscience-first-and/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The Laws of Nature are the Laws of God, Whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth. A legislature must not obstruct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-laws-of-god-whose-authority-can-be/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [In violent streets and broken homes, the cry of anguished souls is not for more laws but for more conscience and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/in-violent-streets-and-broken-homes-the-cry-of-anguished-souls-is-not/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [The laws of conscience, though we ascribe them to nature, actually come from custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-of-conscience-though-we-ascribe-them-to-nature-actually-come/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Forget Moses and the 10 Commandment, since Jesus came and fulfill the Law, he also added new Laws, & it is not written on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/forget-moses-and-the-10-commandment-since-jesus-came-and-fulfill-the/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Forget Moses and the 10 Commandment, since Jesus came and fulfil the law, he also added new Laws, it is not written on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/forget-moses-and-the-10-commandment-since-jesus-came-and-fulfil-the/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, ne'er looks back; And is a swelling, and the last affection A high mind can put off; being both a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-ne-er-looks-back-and-is-a-swelling-and-the/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Have your own Convictions. Believe in the laws of your Conscience because if you believe in everything, you become nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/have-your-own-convictions-believe-in-the-laws-of-your-conscience/) RVM > [The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-of-conscience-which-we-pretend-to-be-derived-from-nature/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“We think ourselves possessed, or, at least, we boast that we are so, of liberty of conscience on all subjects, and of the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-think-ourselves-possessed-or-at-least-we-boast-that-we-are-so-of/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [To discriminate against a thoroughly upright citizen because he belongs to some particular church, or because, like Abraham Lincoln, he has not avowed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/to-discriminate-against-a-thoroughly-upright-citizen-because-he/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Liberty of conscience is for those who truly fear the Lord. A fundamental task of the state is the establishment of pure religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cotton/liberty-of-conscience-is-for-those-who-truly-fear-the-lord-a/) [John Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cotton/) > [It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-behooves-every-man-who-values-liberty-of-conscience-for-himself-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [And what is liberty, whose very name makes the heart beat faster and shakes the world? Is it not the union of all liberties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/and-what-is-liberty-whose-very-name-makes-the-heart-beat-faster-and/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [By liberty of conscience, we understand not only a mere liberty of the mind, in believing or disbelieving this or that principle or doctrine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/by-liberty-of-conscience-we-understand-not-only-a-mere-liberty-of-the/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## 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 Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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