--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In all that people can do for themselves…" description: "\"In all that people can do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png" --- # In all that people can do for themselves, government ought… ![“In all that people can do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png) > “In all that people can do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.” [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. The statement argues for minimal government interference, emphasizing personal responsibility and self-reliance. **In simple terms:** People should help themselves, not rely on government. Key Takeaway Promote self-sufficiency and limited regulation. Themes individualism freedom government Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - business startups - personal finance - community projects - education policy Key Concepts political philosophy libertarianism Questions to Reflect On - When is government support essential? - How can individuals and societies balance autonomy and aid? A Different Perspective Overreliance on personal effort can ignore systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [In the first place, the government ought not to be invested with power to control the affections, any more than the consciences of citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/in-the-first-place-the-government-ought-not-to-be-invested-with-power/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-can-find-no-warrant-for-such-an-appropriation-in-the-constitution/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Government cannot do everything, so we need to first decide what government ought to be doing, then figure out what it's capable of doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-fletcher/government-cannot-do-everything-so-we-need-to-first-decide-what/) [Ernie Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-fletcher/) > [If ever this free people, if this Government itself is ever utterly demoralized, it will come from this incessant human wriggle and struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-ever-this-free-people-if-this-government-itself-is-ever-utterly/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Republican administration would, directly, or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/do-the-people-of-the-south-really-entertain-fears-that-a-republican/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-interfere-with-anything-in-the-constitution-that-must-be/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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 believe that every individual is naturally entitled to do as he pleases with himself and the fruits of his labor, so far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-that-every-individual-is-naturally-entitled-to-do-as-he/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The legal right of the Southern people to reclaim their fugitives I have constantly admitted. The legal right of Congress to interfere with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-legal-right-of-the-southern-people-to-reclaim-their-fugitives-i/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What we have to do is strike a balance between the idea that government should do everything and the idea, the belief, that government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/what-we-have-to-do-is-strike-a-balance-between-the-idea-that/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [Taxes should be continued by annual or biennial reenactments; because a constant hold by the nation of the strings of the public purse is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/taxes-should-be-continued-by-annual-or-biennial-reenactments-because/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Government is nothing more than the combined force of society or the united power of the multitude for the peace, order, safety, good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/government-is-nothing-more-than-the-combined-force-of-society-or-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [When the good lord calls you home, the government ought not come get your home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/when-the-good-lord-calls-you-home-the-government-ought-not-come-get/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I think the government ought to stay out of the religious business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-the-government-ought-to-stay-out-of-the-religious-business/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It appears to general observation, that revolutions create genius and talents; but those events do no more than bring them forward. There is existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-appears-to-general-observation-that-revolutions-create-genius-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## 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 Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In all that people can do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves-government-ought-not-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can do" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves-government-ought-not-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/abraham-lincoln-88_can-do_in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves_1534546.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In all that people can do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.” — 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": "In all that people can do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves-government-ought-not-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-all-that-people-can-do-for-themselves-government-ought-not-to/#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 } } ] } ```