--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has long been recognized that the…" description: "\"It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png" --- # It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol… ![“It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png) > “It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.” [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. Alcohol isn’t inherently bad; problems arise when a beneficial substance is misused. **In simple terms:** Misuse of good things causes harm. Key Takeaway Use moderation, avoid excess. Themes moderation responsibility health Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal consumption - policy making - education - healthcare Key Concepts public health ethics Questions to Reflect On - What limits do you set on beneficial habits? - How can society promote responsible use? A Different Perspective Even good things can become harmful without limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [None seemed to think the injury arose from the use of a bad thing but from the abuse of a very good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/none-seemed-to-think-the-injury-arose-from-the-use-of-a-bad-thing-but/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Food during my early years was a very difficult issue for me. I grew up in an addictive family. My mother had serious problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/food-during-my-early-years-was-a-very-difficult-issue-for-me-i-grew/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/abuse-no-one-and-no-thing-for-abuse-turns-the-wise-ones-to-fools-and/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [The thing about abuse is it's just a cycle of hatred. The person who is gonna abuse you has been abused, and he continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/the-thing-about-abuse-is-it-s-just-a-cycle-of-hatred-the-person-who/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [“If you say “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Then evil will have it way upon the world. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-cain/if-you-say-do-unto-others-as-you-would-have-them-do-unto-you-then/) Jason Cain > [But the possibility of abuse may be a good reason for leaving capabilities out of other computer languages, it's not a good reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/but-the-possibility-of-abuse-may-be-a-good-reason-for-leaving/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [However, if you listen to me I think you can hear years of abuse in my voice - both bad abuse and good abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/however-if-you-listen-to-me-i-think-you-can-hear-years-of-abuse-in-my/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [Let's not build the policy around the abuse. That's not good policy. That's actually bad policy. Build the policy around the aspiration point. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/let-s-not-build-the-policy-around-the-abuse-that-s-not-good-policy/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [The abuse of a good does not diminish the good of a good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/the-abuse-of-a-good-does-not-diminish-the-good-of-a-good/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [People go through different stages of their lives at different times. If you're out of sync with your friend group, that gets exploded once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/people-go-through-different-stages-of-their-lives-at-different-times/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I think people like players they can relate to. It seems as if people think they know me. I just think I'm an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-couples/i-think-people-like-players-they-can-relate-to-it-seems-as-if-people/) [Fred Couples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-couples/) > [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) ## 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 Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-problems-with-alcohol-relate-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-problems-with-alcohol-relate-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/abraham-lincoln-88_abuse_it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-pro_1397457.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the…” — 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": "It has long been recognized that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-problems-with-alcohol-relate-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-has-long-been-recognized-that-the-problems-with-alcohol-relate-not/#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 } } ] } ```