--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our government rests in public opinion…" description: "\"Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_our-government-rests-in-public-opinion-w_2324149.png" --- # Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change… ![“Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_our-government-rests-in-public-opinion-w_2324149.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_our-government-rests-in-public-opinion-w_2324149.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_our-government-rests-in-public-opinion-w_2324149.png) > “Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.” [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. Public opinion shapes government; influencing opinion can shift power structures. **In simple terms:** Changing public opinion can change government. Key Takeaway Influence public sentiment to affect governance. Themes politics public opinion power change Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - policy advocacy - media campaigns - grassroots organizing Key Concepts democracy media influence propaganda Questions to Reflect On - How can you responsibly influence public opinion? - What limits exist on shaping collective views? A Different Perspective Public opinion is also shaped by many other factors beyond individual influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) ## Related quotes > [A representative form of government rests nor more on political contributions than on those laws which regulate the descent and transmission of property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/a-representative-form-of-government-rests-nor-more-on-political/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Our government rests upon religion. It is from that source that we derive our reverence for truth and justice, for equality and liberality, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/our-government-rests-upon-religion-it-is-from-that-source-that-we-3/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Our government rests upon religion. It is from that source that we derive our reverance for truth and justice, for equality and liberty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/our-government-rests-upon-religion-it-is-from-that-source-that-we-2/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Our government rests upon religion. 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Well, you can change it any time¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/you-have-an-opinion-about-yourself-well-you-can-change-it-any-time/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [Don't let someone else's opinion change how you feel about something. Stand by what you believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-someone-else-s-opinion-change-how-you-feel-about-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let someone's opinion change you into someone your not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-silva/don-t-let-someone-s-opinion-change-you-into-someone-your-not/) Kenneth Silva > [A man should always have these two rules in readiness. 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However, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-yanai/as-a-businessperson-i-dont-have-the-power-to-change-the-government/) [Tadashi Yanai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-yanai/) ## 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 Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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