--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say now, however, as I have all the…" description: "\"I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national ausp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/abraham-lincoln-88_compromise_i-say-now-however-as-i-have-all-the-whil_2245277.png" --- # I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on… ![“I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, - I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/abraham-lincoln-88_compromise_i-say-now-however-as-i-have-all-the-whil_2245277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/abraham-lincoln-88_compromise_i-say-now-however-as-i-have-all-the-whil_2245277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af2/abraham-lincoln-88_compromise_i-say-now-however-as-i-have-all-the-whil_2245277.png) > “I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, - I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation.” [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 insists that the expansion of slavery into new territories is unacceptable and must not be compromised. **In simple terms:** No compromise on spreading slavery. Key Takeaway Reject any extension of slavery. Themes politics morality freedom Mood serious determined Type historical political When to use this quote - legislative debates - civil rights movements - policy making - educational curricula Key Concepts slavery territorial rights national policy Questions to Reflect On - How should leaders balance moral conviction with political pressure? - What are the risks of compromising on fundamental rights? A Different Perspective Compromise may be politically expedient but risks moral erosion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auspices Inflexible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auspices-inflexible-5108254/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Extending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extending/) [Extending Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extending-slavery-2295560/) [Extensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extensions/) [Inflexible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflexible/) [Inflexible Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflexible-compromise-5108255/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [No compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-compromise/) [Permit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permit/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-national-4264296/) [Soil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soil/) [Territorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territorial/) ## Related quotes > [Let there be no compromise on the question of extending slavery. If there be, all our labor is lost, and, ere long, must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-there-be-no-compromise-on-the-question-of-extending-slavery-if/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If slavery, as a national evil, is to be abolished, and it be just that it be done at the national expense, the amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/if-slavery-as-a-national-evil-is-to-be-abolished-and-it-be-just-that/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/important-principles-may-and-must-be-inflexible/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Being bigheaded can be as irritating and as dangerous as being small-minded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/being-bigheaded-can-be-as-irritating-and-as-dangerous-as-being-small/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Terror is nothing else than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/terror-is-nothing-else-than-justice-prompt-severe-inflexible/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She looked not so much composed as drawn inward. She was one of those people who are irrevocably, incurably honest and therefore both inflexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/she-looked-not-so-much-composed-as-drawn-inward-she-was-one-of-those/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [“inflexible structure forces characters into a predetermined framework rather than letting them be what they want to be and prevents them from finding their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-platt/inflexible-structure-forces-characters-into-a-predetermined-framework/) [Sean Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-platt/) > [The way of God's grace becomes indispensable when we realize that the way of God's law is inflexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-way-of-god-s-grace-becomes-indispensable-when-we-realize-that-the/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Fixating on the outcome or needing to know all the details of an upcoming event, such as a trip, causes people to be upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/fixating-on-the-outcome-or-needing-to-know-all-the-details-of-an-2/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Fixating on the outcome or needing to know all the details of an upcoming event, such as a trip, causes people to be upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/fixating-on-the-outcome-or-needing-to-know-all-the-details-of-an/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [Right angles don't attract me. Nor straight, hard and inflexible lines created by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/right-angles-don-t-attract-me-nor-straight-hard-and-inflexible-lines/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [“He’s quite lovely. But...a tad inflexible in his views. Life doesn’t flow in such rigid lines, my dear, as much as we might like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/he-s-quite-lovely-but-a-tad-inflexible-in-his-views-life-doesn-t-flow/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [If you are inflexible in the body, look at what you are holding onto unnecessarily in your life. Release tension, and life will open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/if-you-are-inflexible-in-the-body-look-at-what-you-are-holding-onto/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [“You are only susceptible to break easily due to occasionally bends if you are inflexible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/you-are-only-susceptible-to-break-easily-due-to-occasionally-bends-if/) [Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana, Ph.D, MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/) > [Very often, organizations are inflexible because there is too little communication between functions; they are too segregated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/very-often-organizations-are-inflexible-because-there-is-too-little/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) ## 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 Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) [Shelby Morgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-morgen/) > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question - that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, - I am inflexible. 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