--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we cannot give freedom to every…" description: "\"If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png" --- # If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do… ![“If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png) > “If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature.” [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. If we cannot ensure freedom for all, we should not impose any form of slavery on any creature. **In simple terms:** Freedom for all, avoid imposing slavery. Key Takeaway Promote universal liberty and avoid oppression. Themes ethics freedom animal rights human rights Mood ethical humanitarian Type advocacy philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - activism - education Key Concepts moral philosophy rights theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance human needs with animal rights? - What policies reflect this principle today? A Different Perspective Historical context may differ; modern interpretation varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-giving-freedom-to-the-slave-we-assure-freedom-to-the-free/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Machines are worshipped because they are beautiful and valued because they confer power; they are hated because they are hideous and loathed because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/machines-are-worshipped-because-they-are-beautiful-and-valued-because/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Slavery is theft - theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any property or produce, theft even of the children a slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bales/slavery-is-theft-theft-of-a-life-theft-of-work-theft-of-any-property/) [Kevin Bales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bales/) > [I have always thought that all men should be free; but if any should be slaves, it should be first those who desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-always-thought-that-all-men-should-be-free-but-if-any-should/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Slavery it is that makes slavery; freedom, freedom. The slavery of women happened when the men were slaves of kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/slavery-it-is-that-makes-slavery-freedom-freedom-the-slavery-of-women/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“We went down into the dungeons where the captives were held. There was a church above one of the dungeons -- which tells you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-h-obama/we-went-down-into-the-dungeons-where-the-captives-were-held-there-was/) Barack H. Obama > [Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/free-labor-has-the-inspiration-of-hope-pure-slavery-has-no-hope/) [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/) > [So plain that no one, high or low, ever does mistake it, except in a plainly selfish way; for although volume upon volume is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/so-plain-that-no-one-high-or-low-ever-does-mistake-it-except-in-a/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While I have often said that all men out to be free, yet I would allow those colored persons to be slaves who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-i-have-often-said-that-all-men-out-to-be-free-yet-i-would-allow/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe the declaration that ‘all men are created equal’ is the great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-the-declaration-that-all-men-are-created-equal-is-the-great/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What I do say is, that no man is good enough to govern another man, without that other's consent. I say this is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-i-do-say-is-that-no-man-is-good-enough-to-govern-another-man/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If any should be slaves, it should be first those who desire it for themselves, and secondly, those who desire it for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-any-should-be-slaves-it-should-be-first-those-who-desire-it-for/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-hate-it-because-of-the-monstrous-injustice-of-slavery-itself-i-hate/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/this-is-a-world-of-compensations-and-he-who-would-be-no-slave-must/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## 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 Be a slave quotes > [“Freedom is for the educated people who fought for it. We were slaves of the English, now we will be slaves of the educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/freedom-is-for-the-educated-people-who-fought-for-it-we-were-slaves/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [Neither should men study war with a view to the enslavement of those who do not deserve to be enslaved; but first of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/neither-should-men-study-war-with-a-view-to-the-enslavement-of-those/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Once a man has tasted freedom he will never be content to be a slave. That is why I believe that this frightfulness we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-a-man-has-tasted-freedom-he-will-never-be-content-to-be-a-slave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/knowledge-makes-a-man-unfit-to-be-a-slave/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Abraham Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-we-could-not-survive-as-a-free-land/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If you're not confident in the authority of the Scriptures, you will be a slave to what sounds right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/if-you-re-not-confident-in-the-authority-of-the-scriptures-you-will/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Christ preaches only servitude and dependence... True Christians are made to be slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/christ-preaches-only-servitude-and-dependence-true-christians-are/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-giving-freedom-to-the-slave-we-assure-freedom-to-the-free/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Everyone wants a happy life without difficulties or suffering. We create many of the problems we face. No one intentionally creates problems, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everyone-wants-a-happy-life-without-difficulties-or-suffering-we/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Unless you have found something in life to live for that is more important to you than your own life, you will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/unless-you-have-found-something-in-life-to-live-for-that-is-more/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [People allow themselves to be slaves of their bad habits and society's bad habits - but they have free will, and if they wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/people-allow-themselves-to-be-slaves-of-their-bad-habits-and-society/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Colonization was the idea that once slavery ended African-Americans should be encouraged - or required, in some people's view - required to leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/colonization-was-the-idea-that-once-slavery-ended-african-americans/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [The Grecians and Romans were strongly possessed of the spirit of liberty but not the principle, for at the time they were determined not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-grecians-and-romans-were-strongly-possessed-of-the-spirit-of/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Every lord's mansion stands on the foundation of your bones, soldier, every field has been saturated with your sweat, and you, peasant, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladyslaw-stanislaw-reymont/every-lord-s-mansion-stands-on-the-foundation-of-your-bones-soldier/) [Wladyslaw Stanislaw Reymont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladyslaw-stanislaw-reymont/) > [I decided I didn't want to be a slave to any passion any more except for my work, i had too many passions -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/i-decided-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-slave-to-any-passion-any-more-except/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) Browse all 130 Be a slave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creature-let-us-do-nothing-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be a slave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creature-let-us-do-nothing-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/abraham-lincoln-88_be-a-slave_if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creat_2119107.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other…” — 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": "If we cannot give freedom to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creature-let-us-do-nothing-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-we-cannot-give-freedom-to-every-creature-let-us-do-nothing-that/#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 } } ] } ```