--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many free countries have lost their…" description: "\"Many free countries have lost their liberty, and ours may lose hers; but, if she shall, be it my proudest plume, not that I was the last to desert, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/abraham-lincoln-88_country_many-free-countries-have-lost-their-libe_3035295.png" --- # Many free countries have lost their liberty, and ours may… ![“Many free countries have lost their liberty, and ours may lose hers; but, if she shall, be it my proudest plume, not that I was the last to desert, but that I never deserted her.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/abraham-lincoln-88_country_many-free-countries-have-lost-their-libe_3035295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/abraham-lincoln-88_country_many-free-countries-have-lost-their-libe_3035295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/abraham-lincoln-88_country_many-free-countries-have-lost-their-libe_3035295.png) > “Many free countries have lost their liberty, and ours may lose hers; but, if she shall, be it my proudest plume, not that I was the last to desert, but that I never deserted her.” [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. Freedom can erode even in free nations; personal loyalty remains a noble stance. **In simple terms:** Liberty can be lost, but steadfast loyalty is commendable. Key Takeaway Stay loyal to your principles despite societal decline. Themes loyalty freedom politics principles Mood determined solemn Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - personal decision‑making Key Concepts civic duty personal sacrifice national decline Practical Applications - public service Questions to Reflect On - What does loyalty mean when the cause is flawed? - How do you act when liberty fades? A Different Perspective Loyalty may be challenged by personal risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Free country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-country/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) ## Related quotes > [Free countries are great, because you can actually sit in somebody else's space for a while and pretend you're a part of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/free-countries-are-great-because-you-can-actually-sit-in-somebody/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [... in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/in-free-countries-the-law-ought-to-be-king-and-there-ought-to-be-no/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The world order which we seek is the co-operation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-world-order-which-we-seek-is-the-co-operation-of-free-countries/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [In free countries, every man is entitled to express his opinions and every other man is entitled not to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-norman-collie/in-free-countries-every-man-is-entitled-to-express-his-opinions-and/) [J. Norman Collie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-norman-collie/) > [HUSBAND, A man who lost his liberty in the pursuit of happiness;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/husband-a-man-who-lost-his-liberty-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Some states have lost their liberty, by particular accidents: but this calamity is generally owing to the decay of virtue. A people is travelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/some-states-have-lost-their-liberty-by-particular-accidents-but-this/) [John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/) > [No nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peter-zenger/no-nation-ancient-or-modern-ever-lost-the-liberty-of-freely-speaking/) [John Peter Zenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peter-zenger/) > [Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil and, if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-regard-it-as-their-right-to-return-evil-for-evil-and-if-they/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Europe is a collection of free countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/europe-is-a-collection-of-free-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ If I look at the really important questions in \[Middle East\] region, I see Iran, where there is a strong desire for a freer… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/if-i-look-at-the-really-important-questions-in-middle-east-region-i/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [If you live in free countries, you don't have to spend all your life arguing about freedom because it is all around you. 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In order to be considered truly free, countries must also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/being-democratic-is-not-enough-a-majority-cannot-turn-what-is-wrong/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [If ever I feel the soul within me elevate and expand to those dimensions not wholly unworthy of its Almighty Architect, it is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-ever-i-feel-the-soul-within-me-elevate-and-expand-to-those/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Everybody else got off the train at Hell, but I figured, it’s a free country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-else-got-off-the-train-at-hell-but-i-figured-it-s-a-free/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For your information, I'm staying like this, and everyone else can just get used to it! If people don't like me the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/for-your-information-i-m-staying-like-this-and-everyone-else-can-just/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) ## 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 Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. 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