--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Two principles have stood face-to-face…" description: "\"“Two principles have stood face-to-face from the beginning of time; and they will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/abraham-lincoln-88_divine-right_two-principles-have-stood-face-to-face-f_3035603.png" --- # Two principles have stood face-to-face from the beginning… ![“Two principles have stood face-to-face from the beginning of time; and they will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/abraham-lincoln-88_divine-right_two-principles-have-stood-face-to-face-f_3035603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/abraham-lincoln-88_divine-right_two-principles-have-stood-face-to-face-f_3035603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/abraham-lincoln-88_divine-right_two-principles-have-stood-face-to-face-f_3035603.png) > ““Two principles have stood face-to-face from the beginning of time; and they will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings.”” [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. Human rights and divine monarchy are opposing forces that will forever clash. **In simple terms:** Human rights vs. divine kingship conflict. Key Takeaway Support universal rights. Themes politics human rights authority Mood reflective serious Type historical political When to use this quote - government policy - civil rights movements - educational curricula - international law Key Concepts Social contract theocratic power Questions to Reflect On - How can societies reconcile these forces? - What limits should divine authority have? A Different Perspective Balancing rights and authority is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-right-1655088/) [Divine right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-right/) [Elitism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elitism/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Stood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-stood-676102/) [Right Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-humanity-2083547/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world. They are the two principles that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-the-eternal-struggle-between-these-two-principles-right-and-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen that is the common right of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-denial-of-justice-not-to-stretch-out-a-helping-hand-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is the eternal struggle between these two principles - right and wrong - throughout the world. They are the two principles that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-the-eternal-struggle-between-these-two-principles-right-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is the eternal struggle between these two principles - right and wrong. They are the two principles that have stood face to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-the-eternal-struggle-between-these-two-principles-right-and-3/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Robin Hood had it right.Humanity's deepest wish is to spread the wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/robin-hood-had-it-right-humanity-s-deepest-wish-is-to-spread-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [The most fatal blow to progress is slavery of the intellect. The most sacred right of humanity is the right to think, and next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/the-most-fatal-blow-to-progress-is-slavery-of-the-intellect-the-most/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [We need a consistent conservative, someone who has stood for free market principles, who has stood for the Constitution and, critically, who stood for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-a-consistent-conservative-someone-who-has-stood-for-free/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Ronald Reagan's era can be defined, number one in most people's minds, by the Cold War and by the end of it - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/ronald-reagan-s-era-can-be-defined-number-one-in-most-people-s-minds/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Suffrage is a common right for citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/suffrage-is-a-common-right-for-citizenship/) [Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/) > [That Americans are entitled to freedom is incontestable on every rational principle. All men have one common original: they participate in one common nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/that-americans-are-entitled-to-freedom-is-incontestable-on-every/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The common right is nothing more or less than the protection of all, pouring its rays on each. This protection of each by all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-common-right-is-nothing-more-or-less-than-the-protection-of-all/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Common law is common right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/common-law-is-common-right/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [Man was appointed by God to have dominion over the beasts, and everything a man does to an animal is either a lawful exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/man-was-appointed-by-god-to-have-dominion-over-the-beasts-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [We need some remedial training on how to live as subjects in a kingdom. We may be justified in rejecting the divine right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-carter/we-need-some-remedial-training-on-how-to-live-as-subjects-in-a/) [Joe Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-carter/) > [“And the priests looked down into the pit of injustice and they turned their faces away and said, 'Our kingdom is not as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weiss/and-the-priests-looked-down-into-the-pit-of-injustice-and-they-turned/) [Peter Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weiss/) ## 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 Divine right quotes > [“And the priests looked down into the pit of injustice and they turned their faces away and said, 'Our kingdom is not as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weiss/and-the-priests-looked-down-into-the-pit-of-injustice-and-they-turned/) [Peter Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weiss/) > [We need some remedial training on how to live as subjects in a kingdom. We may be justified in rejecting the divine right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-carter/we-need-some-remedial-training-on-how-to-live-as-subjects-in-a/) [Joe Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-carter/) > [Man was appointed by God to have dominion over the beasts, and everything a man does to an animal is either a lawful exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/man-was-appointed-by-god-to-have-dominion-over-the-beasts-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“all the people have a right to vote, and no single man ever controls the destiny of any nation, either by divine right or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/all-the-people-have-a-right-to-vote-and-no-single-man-ever-controls/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [The average mind is slow in grasping a truth, but when the most thoroughly organized, centralized institution, maintained at an excessive national expense, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-average-mind-is-slow-in-grasping-a-truth-but-when-the-most/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/any-human-power-can-be-resisted-and-changed-by-human-beings/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > ["All government in essence," says Emerson, "is tyranny." It matters not whether it is government by divine right or majority rule. In every instance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/all-government-in-essence-says-emerson-is-tyranny-it-matters-not/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Both church and state claiming to be of divine origin have assumed divine right of man over woman; while church and state have thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/both-church-and-state-claiming-to-be-of-divine-origin-have-assumed/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [All that is mine by Divine Right is now released and reaches me in great avalanches of abundance, under grace in miraculous ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/all-that-is-mine-by-divine-right-is-now-released-and-reaches-me-in/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [There is no separation in Divine Mind, therefore, I cannot be separated from the love and companionship which are mine by divine right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/there-is-no-separation-in-divine-mind-therefore-i-cannot-be-separated/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [“The divine right of kings may now be acknowledged as a fabrication, a falsified permit for prideful dementia and impulsive mayhem. The inalienable rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/the-divine-right-of-kings-may-now-be-acknowledged-as-a-fabrication-a/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [“Democracy is not a tearing down; it is a building up. It does not denial of the divine right of kings; it asserts the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/democracy-is-not-a-tearing-down-it-is-a-building-up-it-does-not/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The people have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge - I mean of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-people-have-a-right-an-indisputable-unalienable-indefeasible/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Infinite Spirit, open the way for my great abundance. I am an irresistible magnet for all that belongs to me by Divine Right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/infinite-spirit-open-the-way-for-my-great-abundance-i-am-an/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/we-live-in-capitalism-its-power-seems-inescapable-so-did-the-divine/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) [Browse all 52 Divine right quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-right/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Two principles have stood face-to-face from the beginning of time; and they will ever continue to struggle. 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