--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This human struggle and scramble for…" description: "\"This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength of our institutions.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png" --- # This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to… ![“This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength of our institutions.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png) > “This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength of our institutions.” [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. It warns that attempts to avoid work through institutional shortcuts will challenge societal structures. **In simple terms:** Avoiding work tests institutions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address work avoidance. Themes work institutions society economics ethics Mood concerned critical Type political reflective When to use this quote - policy making - economic reform - social welfare - education systems Key Concepts capitalism social contract labor theory Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance work and support? - What safeguards protect institutions? A Different Perspective May overlook individual responsibility and market dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Human Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-struggle-797781/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Strength Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-institutions-4761695/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Scramble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-scramble-4761696/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way to live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-to-live/) [Work Finally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-finally-737654/) ## Related quotes > [My job is for the people. It's for the public. It's for their consumption. So I've done a lot in that way, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/my-job-is-for-the-people-it-s-for-the-public-it-s-for-their/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [It feels amazing to see all of my hard work finally pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natti-natasha/it-feels-amazing-to-see-all-of-my-hard-work-finally-pay-off/) [Natti Natasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natti-natasha/) > [My hard work finally catching up with perfect timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/my-hard-work-finally-catching-up-with-perfect-timing/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [The world must learn to work together, or finally it will not work at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-world-must-learn-to-work-together-or-finally-it-will-not-work-at/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“Work finally begins,” says Alain de Botton, “when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mcardle/work-finally-begins-says-alain-de-botton-when-the-fear-of-doing/) [Megan McArdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mcardle/) > [Work finally begins when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/work-finally-begins-when-the-fear-of-doing-nothing-exceeds-the-fear/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Rebels defy the rules of society, risking everything to retain their humanity. If the world Atwood depicts is chilling, if 'God is losing,' the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-johnson/rebels-defy-the-rules-of-society-risking-everything-to-retain-their/) [Joyce Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-johnson/) > [History has been conceived--and with high justification in the records--as the human struggle for civilization against barbarism in different ages and places, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ritter-beard/history-has-been-conceived-and-with-high-justification-in-the-records/) [Mary Ritter Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ritter-beard/) > [Every human struggle will be replaced by infinite joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/every-human-struggle-will-be-replaced-by-infinite-joy/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [The struggle isn't just about being straight or gay or transgender - it's a human struggle. That's always really been my kind of starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/the-struggle-isn-t-just-about-being-straight-or-gay-or-transgender-it/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [Film can't just be a long line of bliss. There's something we all like about the human struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/film-can-t-just-be-a-long-line-of-bliss-there-s-something-we-all-like/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The desert ... may serve better as the backdrop for the problematic relationship between man and the environment. The human struggle, the successes ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/the-desert-may-serve-better-as-the-backdrop-for-the-problematic/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [Stories hold conflict and contrast, highs and lows, life and death, and the human struggle and all kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/stories-hold-conflict-and-contrast-highs-and-lows-life-and-death-and/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [In order to be human you must struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-guntermann/in-order-to-be-human-you-must-struggle/) [Travis Guntermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-guntermann/) > [For in a swift radiance of illumination he saw a glimpse of human struggle and valor. Of the endless fluid passage of the humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/for-in-a-swift-radiance-of-illumination-he-saw-a-glimpse-of-human/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) ## 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 Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength of our institutions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-office-for-a-way-to-live-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-office-for-a-way-to-live-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/abraham-lincoln-88_adversity_this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-off_2189228.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This human struggle and scramble for office, for a way to live without work, will finally test the strength…” — 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": "This human struggle and scramble for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-office-for-a-way-to-live-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/this-human-struggle-and-scramble-for-office-for-a-way-to-live-without/#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 } } ] } ```