--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not in our forming battlements or…" description: "\"“It is not in our forming battlements or bristling seacoasts, or our Army and Navy that makes America great - but rather our reliance in the law of lib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/abraham-lincoln-88_america_it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or_2736868.png" --- # It is not in our forming battlements or bristling… ![“It is not in our forming battlements or bristling seacoasts, or our Army and Navy that makes America great - but rather our reliance in the law of liberty and the religious law God has planted in us.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/abraham-lincoln-88_america_it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or_2736868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/abraham-lincoln-88_america_it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or_2736868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/abraham-lincoln-88_america_it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or_2736868.png) > ““It is not in our forming battlements or bristling seacoasts, or our Army and Navy that makes America great - but rather our reliance in the law of liberty and the religious law God has planted in us.”” [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. America's strength lies in liberty and moral law, not military might. **In simple terms:** Freedom and moral values make a nation great. Key Takeaway Prioritize liberty and ethical principles. Themes freedom morality national identity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - education - community building - legal reform Key Concepts constitutionalism civil rights spiritual law Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance security with liberty? - What moral laws guide you? A Different Perspective Military power alone cannot sustain greatness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) ## Related quotes > [What makes America great is that we're all so different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-re-all-so-different/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [When you look at what makes America great, what makes America, you know, not great, our ups and our downs, Springfield represents all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rose/when-you-look-at-what-makes-america-great-what-makes-america-you-know/) [Kevin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rose/) > [The gift I have to give to my fellow countrymen and people around the world, the facts are the Muslim community are our gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/the-gift-i-have-to-give-to-my-fellow-countrymen-and-people-around-the/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [For the son of immigrants to run for elected office, not even a generation after my parents got here, that's what makes America a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/for-the-son-of-immigrants-to-run-for-elected-office-not-even-a/) [Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/) > [What makes America great is our commitment to our values of inclusivity and opportunity for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/what-makes-america-great-is-our-commitment-to-our-values-of/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [What makes America great was a government that was founded to be limited to doing one thing. I really believe the whole purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/what-makes-america-great-was-a-government-that-was-founded-to-be/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [The very fact of seeking specialization is probably what makes America so great in these two hundred years. But also, the sensation that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/the-very-fact-of-seeking-specialization-is-probably-what-makes/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [Let's not be too rough on our own ignorance, it's what makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/let-s-not-be-too-rough-on-our-own-ignorance-it-s-what-makes-america/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can-come-together-during-times-of/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [What makes America great is that we were founded on a Judeo-Christian nation. That's very important for us to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-were-founded-on-a-judeo-christian/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“America belongs to all who live here and call her home; of every color and background; that is central to what makes America great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-lewis/america-belongs-to-all-who-live-here-and-call-her-home-of-every-color/) [Leland Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-lewis/) > [What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/what-makes-america-great-is-peaceful-protests-and-exercising-your/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [A free press isn't the enemy of America; it's a big part of why makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/a-free-press-isn-t-the-enemy-of-america-it-s-a-big-part-of-why-makes/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [There must be a law if there is to be liberty. Try to play a piano and you will run into laws as fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/there-must-be-a-law-if-there-is-to-be-liberty-try-to-play-a-piano-and/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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