--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it…" description: "\"To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png" --- # To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so. ![“To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png) > “To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so.” [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. Stating an absurd claim does not make it true; evidence is required for belief **In simple terms:** A claim without evidence is false Key Takeaway Demand evidence before accepting statements Themes logic critical thinking skepticism argumentation Mood skeptical thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - debates - scientific research - news consumption - political discourse Key Concepts fallacy identification evidence standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify information before sharing? - What evidence would change your mind on a controversial issue? A Different Perspective People often accept claims that align with biases despite lack of proof ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Legs Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-doesn-481501/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [Say Sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-sheep-314074/) [Sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheep/) [Sheep Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheep-legs-891282/) ## Related quotes > [If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/if-therefore-the-greeks-or-others-say-that-they-are-not-committed-to/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [Having no legs doesn't mean you can't drive fast and I wasn't going to be happy scoring the odd point. I thought it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/having-no-legs-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-drive-fast-and-i-wasn-t-going/) [Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/) > [It would be equally reasonable to say that sheep are born carnivorous, and everywhere nibble grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-faguet/it-would-be-equally-reasonable-to-say-that-sheep-are-born-carnivorous/) [Emile Faguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-faguet/) > [“Well, all I can say is that sheep are content, day after day in the field munching, minding their own business, not hurting anyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kloss/well-all-i-can-say-is-that-sheep-are-content-day-after-day-in-the/) [Mark Kloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kloss/) > [Just because you have long legs doesn't mean you'll be happy as a Rockette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lore/just-because-you-have-long-legs-doesn-t-mean-you-ll-be-happy-as-a/) [Nicholas Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lore/) > [“Horses have powerful legs- but that doesn't mean they're prima ballerinas. Elianna to Mariketa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/horses-have-powerful-legs-but-that-doesn-t-mean-they-re-prima/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“Tendencies. Yougottendencies. Soevenifyoudideverythingoveragain, yourwholelife, yougottendenciestodojustwhatyoudid, alloveragain. -The Sheep Man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/tendencies-yougottendencies-soevenifyoudideverythingoveragain/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Dogs are just wolves in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-coren/dogs-are-just-wolves-in-sheep-s-clothing/) [Stanley Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-coren/) > [History would indicate that the majority of people have always been sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/history-would-indicate-that-the-majority-of-people-have-always-been/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“A shepherd may like to travel, but he should never forget his sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-shepherd-may-like-to-travel-but-he-should-never-forget-his-sheep/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [A Tiger does not lose sleep... over the opinion of Sheep...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-tiger-does-not-lose-sleep-over-the-opinion-of-sheep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Change is a sheep in wolf's clothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-lacroix/change-is-a-sheep-in-wolf-s-clothing/) [Darren LaCroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-lacroix/) > [The herd instinct among forecasters makes sheep look like independent thinkers..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-fiedler/the-herd-instinct-among-forecasters-makes-sheep-look-like-independent/) [Edgar Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-fiedler/) > [Beware of a wolf in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/beware-of-a-wolf-in-sheep-s-clothing/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“When a wolf is hungry it befriends sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-a-wolf-is-hungry-it-befriends-sheep/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## 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 Legs quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Restore human legs as a means of travel. Pedestrians rely on food for fuel and need no special parking facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/restore-human-legs-as-a-means-of-travel-pedestrians-rely-on-food-for/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [As if she had summoned them, a flurry of stones flew out of the darkness, striking his mail, pinging off his helm. One hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilari-bell/as-if-she-had-summoned-them-a-flurry-of-stones-flew-out-of-the/) [Hilari Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilari-bell/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [One of the first houses we lived in was like out of a fairy story. We had a stream that ran through our garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/one-of-the-first-houses-we-lived-in-was-like-out-of-a-fairy-story-we/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [If he fancied her anymore," Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, "I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself." "Saphira!" Mortified, Eragon swatted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/if-he-fancied-her-anymore-saphira-said-to-both-eragon-and-roran-i-d/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Technically, I've learned that having good legs and wind is good for being on stage. You have to be in shape and have endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/technically-i-ve-learned-that-having-good-legs-and-wind-is-good-for/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Old ladies in wheelchairs with blankets over their legs, I don't think so...retired mermaids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/old-ladies-in-wheelchairs-with-blankets-over-their-legs-i-don-t-think/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 2,493 Legs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-it-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Legs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-it-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/abraham-lincoln-88_legs_to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-i_1674181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To say a sheep has 5 legs doesn't make it so.” — 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": "To say a sheep has 5...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-it-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-say-a-sheep-has-5-legs-doesn-t-make-it-so/#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 } } ] } ```