--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am for those means which will give the…" description: "\"I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png" --- # I am for those means which will give the greatest good to… ![“I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png) > “I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.” [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. Advocates actions that benefit the majority, prioritizing collective welfare over individual interests. **In simple terms:** Seek the greatest good for the most people. Key Takeaway Aim to help many, not just few. Themes ethics utilitarianism public good Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - policy making - public health - community projects - charitable initiatives Key Concepts greatest good majority consequentialism Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance majority benefit with minority protection? - What risks arise when only majority welfare is considered? A Different Perspective May neglect minority rights or individual needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Greatest number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-number/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/it-is-the-greatest-good-to-the-greatest-number-of-people-which-is-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [“Conservation,” Pinchot famously wrote, “means the greatest good to the greatest number for the longest time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/conservation-pinchot-famously-wrote-means-the-greatest-good-to-the/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [“The cause of right is never lost, Leal. I've often thought the biggest damned fool in the world could to down in history as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/the-cause-of-right-is-never-lost-leal-i-ve-often-thought-the-biggest/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [The purpose of conservation: The greatest good to the greatest number of people for the longest time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gifford-pinchot/the-purpose-of-conservation-the-greatest-good-to-the-greatest-number/) [Gifford Pinchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gifford-pinchot/) > [I do not care about the greatest good for the greatest number . . . Most people are poop-heads I do not care about them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alan-gardner/i-do-not-care-about-the-greatest-good-for-the-greatest-number-most/) [James Alan Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alan-gardner/) > [“The greatest good to the greatest number will obviously be reached when each individual of the greatest number is doing the greatest good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder/the-greatest-good-to-the-greatest-number-will-obviously-be-reached/) Rose Wilder > [The action is best that secures the greatest happiness for the greatest number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dean-howells/the-action-is-best-that-secures-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/) [William Dean Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dean-howells/) > [To live the greatest number of good hours is wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-live-the-greatest-number-of-good-hours-is-wisdom/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Genius, even, as it is the greatest good, is he greatest harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/genius-even-as-it-is-the-greatest-good-is-he-greatest-harm/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The greatest good news is when you know that someone loves you more than you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/the-greatest-good-news-is-when-you-know-that-someone-loves-you-more/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [The good is the greatest rival of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/the-good-is-the-greatest-rival-of-the-best/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [Doing good is the greatest happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-good-is-the-greatest-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power, authority, dignity, honors, wealth and station--these are so far valuable as they put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greatest-man-power-authority-dignity/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [To work for the common good is the greatest creed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-work-for-the-common-good-is-the-greatest-creed/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“Strive to be more than number one—strive to be the greatest number one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/strive-to-be-more-than-number-one-strive-to-be-the-greatest-number-one/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## 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 Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the-greatest-good-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the-greatest-good-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/abraham-lincoln-88_giving_i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the_2159128.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number.” — 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": "I am for those means which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the-greatest-good-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-for-those-means-which-will-give-the-greatest-good-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```