--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not think I could myself, be brought…" description: "\"I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/abraham-lincoln-88_enemy_i-do-not-think-i-could-myself-be-brought_2501962.png" --- # I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man… ![“I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/abraham-lincoln-88_enemy_i-do-not-think-i-could-myself-be-brought_2501962.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/abraham-lincoln-88_enemy_i-do-not-think-i-could-myself-be-brought_2501962.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c3/abraham-lincoln-88_enemy_i-do-not-think-i-could-myself-be-brought_2501962.png) > “I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion.” [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. Lincoln refuses to support a political opponent who opposes his religious beliefs. **In simple terms:** Refuses to support a political foe with opposing religion. Key Takeaway Stand by personal convictions. Themes politics religion integrity principles Mood principled stern Type ethical historical When to use this quote - government - faith communities - public office Key Concepts ethical leadership moral stance Questions to Reflect On - When should personal belief override political duty? - Can one separate faith from governance? A Different Perspective Political compromise may be necessary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brought Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought-support-1070732/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Man Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-office-1070734/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scoffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoffers/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Support Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-man-1070733/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-think-i-could-myself-be-brought-to-support-a-man-for-office/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The habits of study in which I have been brought up have done much to support me. I never allow myself to be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/the-habits-of-study-in-which-i-have-been-brought-up-have-done-much-to/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [“A DOZEN PHALLACIES WOMEN BUY Phallacy 3. If you use your power to support a man, he'll always support you. Truth Alas, not true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/a-dozen-phallacies-women-buy-phallacy-3-if-you-use-your-power-to/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/a-little-flattery-will-support-a-man-through-great-fatigue/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [A man who has no office to go, to I don't care who he is, is a trial of which you can have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-who-has-no-office-to-go-to-i-don-t-care-who-he-is-is-a-trial-of/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You may give give a man office, but you cannot give him discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/you-may-give-give-a-man-office-but-you-cannot-give-him-discretion/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [When I give a man an office, I watch him carefully to see whether he is swelling or growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-give-a-man-an-office-i-watch-him-carefully-to-see-whether-he/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Every man who takes office in Washington either grows or swells, and when I give a man an office, I watch him carefully to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/every-man-who-takes-office-in-washington-either-grows-or-swells-and/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When I give a man an office, Iwatch him carefully to see whether he is swelling or growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-give-a-man-an-office-iwatch-him-carefully-to-see-whether-he-is/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The abstractionist and the materialist thus mutually exasperating each other, and the scoffer expressing the worst of materialism, there arises a third party to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsilio-ficino/the-abstractionist-and-the-materialist-thus-mutually-exasperating/) [Marsilio Ficino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsilio-ficino/) > [At such times, the heart of man turns instictively towards his Maker. In prosperity, and whenever there is nothing to injure or make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/at-such-times-the-heart-of-man-turns-instictively-towards-his-maker/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [When we free ourselves from the constraints of ordinary goals and uninformed scoffers we will find ourselves roaring off the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/when-we-free-ourselves-from-the-constraints-of-ordinary-goals-and/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Science is dangerous. There is no question but that poison gas, genetic engineering, and nuclear weapons and power stations are terrifying. It may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/science-is-dangerous-there-is-no-question-but-that-poison-gas-genetic/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The soul is the perceiver and revealer of truth. We know truth when we see it, let skeptic and scoffer say what they choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-soul-is-the-perceiver-and-revealer-of-truth-we-know-truth-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) ## 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. 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The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. 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