--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To correct the evils, great and small…" description: "\"To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abraham-lincoln-88_brotherhood_to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-whi_465398.jpg" --- # To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from… ![“To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abraham-lincoln-88_brotherhood_to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-whi_465398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abraham-lincoln-88_brotherhood_to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-whi_465398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/abraham-lincoln-88_brotherhood_to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-whi_465398.jpg) > “To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization.” [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. Civilization’s highest purpose is to correct injustices caused by lack of sympathy and hostility among peoples. **In simple terms:** Society should fix wrongs caused by indifference and hatred. Key Takeaway Promote empathy and reconciliation. Themes civilization justice sympathy enmity morality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type ethical historical When to use this quote - policy reform - education programs - community dialogues - international diplomacy Key Concepts ethical responsibility social cohesion conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can societies cultivate genuine sympathy? - What mechanisms can address systemic injustices? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated enmity is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Correct Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correct-evils-4033431/) [Enmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enmity/) [Enmity Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enmity-strangers-4033430/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-great-3431265/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Functions Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/functions-civilization-4033428/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Positive Enmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-enmity-4033429/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/at-the-bottom-of-enmity-between-strangers-lies-indifference/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Life is the greatest of blessings and death the worst of evils… all great, powerful souls love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/life-is-the-greatest-of-blessings-and-death-the-worst-of-evils-all/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [The memories which peaceful country scenes call up, are not of this world, nor of its thoughts and hopes. 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That's what gives the modern rhetoric of polarization its singular stamp and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-nunberg/it-s-important-that-these-people-think-of-their-adversaries/) [Geoffrey Nunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-nunberg/) > [There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/there-is-an-old-saying-which-from-its-truth-has-become-proverbial/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [“Sufis are those who have expunged from their minds the human tendencies of envy and enmity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufis-are-those-who-have-expunged-from-their-minds-the-human/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Do nondoing, strive for non-stiving, savor the flavourless, make much of little, repay enmity with virture; plan for difficulty when it is still easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-non-stiving-savor-the-flavourless-make-much-of/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The enmity of such a party towards Socialism does not mean that the members are only prejudiced against it because they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-radek/the-enmity-of-such-a-party-towards-socialism-does-not-mean-that-the/) [Karl Radek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-radek/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## 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. 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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. 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May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. 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