--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no purpose, directly or…" description: "\"“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful righ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png" --- # I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere… ![“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png) > ““I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”” [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 asserts no moral or legal duty to oppose slavery where it exists, reflecting personal conflict. **In simple terms:** No duty to oppose slavery where legal. Key Takeaway Consider moral responsibility. Themes morality law slavery conflict history Mood serious historical Type political ethical When to use this quote - historical analysis - ethical debate - policy making Key Concepts Legalism vs. ethics personal conscience Questions to Reflect On - What obligations outweigh legality? - How do personal beliefs shape actions? A Different Perspective Contradicts modern human rights views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Lawful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-lawful-971132/) [Institution Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-slavery-781295/) [Interfere Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interfere-institution-2739582/) [Purpose Directly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-directly-4856963/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-states-639926/) ## Related quotes > [I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-but-quote-from-one-of-those-speeches-when-i-declare-that-i-have/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I hold it to be a paramount duty of us in the free states, due to the Union of the states, and perhaps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-hold-it-to-be-a-paramount-duty-of-us-in-the-free-states-due-to-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There is in all of a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also legitimate. This belief is so widespread that many persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/there-is-in-all-of-a-strong-disposition-to-believe-that-anything/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [We believe that the spreading out and perpetuity of the institution of slavery impairs the general welfare. We believe - nay, we know, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-believe-that-the-spreading-out-and-perpetuity-of-the-institution/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and-prosperity-save-and-except/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In the first place, I insist that our fathers did not make this nation half slave and half free, or part slave and part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-the-first-place-i-insist-that-our-fathers-did-not-make-this-nation/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It was only with the rise of capitalism and the need for workers to be freer, more mobile, and prosperous, that societies were able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/it-was-only-with-the-rise-of-capitalism-and-the-need-for-workers-to/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [“I never will, I never can, worship a God who upholds the institution of slavery. Such a God I hate and defy. I neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-never-will-i-never-can-worship-a-god-who-upholds-the-institution-of/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [We must look at the institution of slavery as publicists, and not as casuists. It is a question of law, and not a case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-brooke-taney/we-must-look-at-the-institution-of-slavery-as-publicists-and-not-as/) [Roger Brooke Taney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-brooke-taney/) > [The real difference of interests, lay not between large and small, but between the Northern and Southern states. The institution of slavery and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-real-difference-of-interests-lay-not-between-large-and-small-but/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [If we do not restore the Institution of Property we cannot escape restoring the Institution of Slavery; there is no third course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/if-we-do-not-restore-the-institution-of-property-we-cannot-escape/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [“The institution of slavery was, for a quarter millennium, the conversion of human beings into currency, into machines who existed solely for the profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-wilkerson/the-institution-of-slavery-was-for-a-quarter-millennium-the/) [Isabel Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-wilkerson/) > [Without the institution of slavery, civilization would never have been achieved, for no one could ever have done anything intellectual if he had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/without-the-institution-of-slavery-civilization-would-never-have-been/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [“An economy that depends on slavery needs to promote images of slaves that “justify” the institution of slavery. The contemporary economy depends right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/an-economy-that-depends-on-slavery-needs-to-promote-images-of-slaves/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [“Banning the institution of slavery itself long remained only a distant hope in much of Africa and the Middle East, even after it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/banning-the-institution-of-slavery-itself-long-remained-only-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## 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 Slavery quotes > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Can you look forward to the future of our country and imagine any state of things in which, with slavery still existing, we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dale-owen/can-you-look-forward-to-the-future-of-our-country-and-imagine-any/) [Robert Dale Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dale-owen/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [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/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Being a slave is to have nothing but still having something left to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalita-tedemy/being-a-slave-is-to-have-nothing-but-still-having-something-left-to/) [Lalita Tedemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalita-tedemy/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [They don't really focus on that history here in America. I remember growing up as a kid, history class was very washed-over. They didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/they-don-t-really-focus-on-that-history-here-in-america-i-remember/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [We're living based on laws and ideas that we, as a society, embraced back in the days of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-living-based-on-laws-and-ideas-that-we-as-a-society-embraced/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [“To say to the slave who has not been emancipated 'Do not behave as a slave' is to mock his enslavement. But to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-murray/to-say-to-the-slave-who-has-not-been-emancipated-do-not-behave-as-a/) [John Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-murray/) [Browse all 2,997 Slavery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly-to-interfere-with-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Slavery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly-to-interfere-with-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/abraham-lincoln-88_slavery_i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly_2204637.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where…” — 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 have no purpose, directly or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly-to-interfere-with-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly-to-interfere-with-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 } } ] } ```