--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never did ask more, nor ever was…" description: "\"I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less, than for all the States, and the people thereof, to take and hold their places, and their ri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/abraham-lincoln-88_accepting_i-never-did-ask-more-nor-ever-was-willin_197793.png" --- # I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less… ![“I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less, than for all the States, and the people thereof, to take and hold their places, and their rights, in the Union, under the Constitution of the United States. For this alone have I felt authorized to struggle; and I seek neither more nor…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/abraham-lincoln-88_accepting_i-never-did-ask-more-nor-ever-was-willin_197793.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/abraham-lincoln-88_accepting_i-never-did-ask-more-nor-ever-was-willin_197793.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/abraham-lincoln-88_accepting_i-never-did-ask-more-nor-ever-was-willin_197793.png) > “I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less, than for all the States, and the people thereof, to take and hold their places, and their rights, in the Union, under the Constitution of the United States. For this alone have I felt authorized to struggle; and I seek neither more nor less now.” [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 that his duty is to uphold the Constitution and the Union, seeking neither more nor less than what the law grants. **In simple terms:** He wants to keep the Union as the Constitution says. Key Takeaway Uphold constitutional duties. Themes duty law union Mood solemn determined Type historical political When to use this quote - government service - civil rights activism - legal advocacy Key Concepts constitutionalism political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal goals with civic responsibilities? - What limits should public officials accept? A Different Perspective Balancing personal ambition with constitutional limits can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Constitution United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-united/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Authorized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-authorized-2073534/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-union-2073533/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-felt-979627/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Union Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/union-constitution-883614/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [The Union, and the Constitution, are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was not made to conceal or destroy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-union-and-the-constitution-are-the-picture-of-silver-subsequently/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [...I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-exceedingly-anxious-that-this-union-the-constitution-and-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I saw how different life was on different sides of the same city. I saw the fear in the eyes of people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-saw-how-different-life-was-on-different-sides-of-the-same-city-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [John Facenda could read a laundry list and make it sound like the Constitution of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sabol/john-facenda-could-read-a-laundry-list-and-make-it-sound-like-the/) [Ed Sabol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sabol/) > [Teachings and ideologies subversive to the fundamental principles of this great Republic, which are contrary to the Constitution of the United States, or which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/teachings-and-ideologies-subversive-to-the-fundamental-principles-of/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The whole idea that the Constitution of the United States would be used to advance a political agenda is absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/the-whole-idea-that-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-would-be/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [“It has often been suggested to me that the Constitution of the United States is a sufficient safeguard for the freedom of its citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/it-has-often-been-suggested-to-me-that-the-constitution-of-the-united/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The Constitution of the United States, like all systems of government which are permanent, had its origin in the history and necessities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-like-all-systems-of-government/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) > [Our plans protect freedom and opportunity, and our blueprint is the Constitution of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/our-plans-protect-freedom-and-opportunity-and-our-blueprint-is-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [To every description of citizens, let praise be given. but let them persevere in their affectionate vigilance over that precious depository of American happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-every-description-of-citizens-let-praise-be-given-but-let-them/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“The last time I saw love was in my imagination while reading a book on Thomas Jefferson. Isn’t the Constitution of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-last-time-i-saw-love-was-in-my-imagination-while-reading-a-book/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The united, well-ordered American home is one of the greatest contributing factors to the preservation of the Constitution of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-united-well-ordered-american-home-is-one-of-the-greatest/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [The Constitution of the United States allows us to change; I don't have a problem with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-allows-us-to-change-i-don-t/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [When all is said and done, the Constitution of the United States is a set of words on a piece of paper. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/when-all-is-said-and-done-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-is-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-one-familiar-with-the-common-law-of-england-can-read-the/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) ## 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 Accepting 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/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never did ask more, nor ever was willing to accept less, than for all the States, and the people thereof, to take and hold their places, and their rights, in the Union, under the Constitution of the United States. 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