--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can not have free government without…" description: "\"We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png" --- # We can not have free government without elections; and if… ![“We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png) > “We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us.” [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. Free government depends on regular elections; suspending them allows rebellion to claim victory and destroy democracy. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs elections; without them, tyranny can arise. Key Takeaway Protect electoral processes fiercely. Themes democracy freedom political stability citizen rights Mood cautious defensive Type political historical When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - civil education - legal reform Key Concepts electoral integrity authoritarian risk civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How can societies safeguard democracy beyond voting? - What signs indicate electoral erosion? A Different Perspective The quote assumes elections alone guarantee freedom, ignoring other safeguards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [If you present good government, then elections look after themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/if-you-present-good-government-then-elections-look-after-themselves/) [Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/) > [The Bible is the best of books, and I wish it were in the hands of every one. It is indispensable to the safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/the-bible-is-the-best-of-books-and-i-wish-it-were-in-the-hands-of/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [We must settle this question now -- whether in a free government the minority have the right to break it up whenever they choose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-must-settle-this-question-now-whether-in-a-free-government-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-not-merely-for-to-day-but-for-all-time-to-come-that-we-should/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We have, as all will agree, a free Government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-have-as-all-will-agree-a-free-government-where-every-man-has-a/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular govenment is not an absurdity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is-the-necessity/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe that anyone who wants to stand in a national election should receive a course of psychotherapy. Completing the course should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-monbiot/i-believe-that-anyone-who-wants-to-stand-in-a-national-election/) [George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/) > [In that first national election after 9/11 in France, Jean-Marine Le Pen did not win the presidency, but he did get to the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/in-that-first-national-election-after-9-11-in-france-jean-marine-le/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [The folks like myself that do this for a living, we were expecting a regular campaign had built the databases, done all the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-folks-like-myself-that-do-this-for-a-living-we-were-expecting-a/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [When a party loses a national election to someone such as President Trump, it's time to rethink everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/when-a-party-loses-a-national-election-to-someone-such-as-president/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [In one thousand years of Russia's existence, its first popular national election ever to be held occurred in June 1991. Six days later, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/in-one-thousand-years-of-russia-s-existence-its-first-popular/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [It took us 50 months in Germany, post World War II to go from the end of the war to a national election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carlucci/it-took-us-50-months-in-germany-post-world-war-ii-to-go-from-the-end/) [Frank Carlucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carlucci/) > [politics can be an ugly game, and in a national election the stakes get higher while the tactics get lower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/politics-can-be-an-ugly-game-and-in-a-national-election-the-stakes/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I believe devoutly that the national election is the closest thing we have to a civic sacrament of democracy. And I really do think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-believe-devoutly-that-the-national-election-is-the-closest-thing-we/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [The DA is the only party in South Africa that has grown in every national election and that trend must continue, and it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-zille/the-da-is-the-only-party-in-south-africa-that-has-grown-in-every/) [Helen Zille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-zille/) ## 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 Can not quotes > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [… Our lives are made in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists & turns of fate. Time falls away, but these small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/our-lives-are-made-in-these-small-hours-these-little-wonders-these/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-cannot-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [You can not kill that which is already dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-undertaker/you-can-not-kill-that-which-is-already-dead/) [The Undertaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-undertaker/) > [Yes I try to do everything I can not to fail hideously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-balaban/yes-i-try-to-do-everything-i-can-not-to-fail-hideously/) [Bob Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-balaban/) > [You can not have significance in this life if it is all about you. You get your significance, you find your joy in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tudor-jones/you-can-not-have-significance-in-this-life-if-it-is-all-about-you-you/) [Paul Tudor Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tudor-jones/) > [If we are true to ourselves, we can not be false to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-are-true-to-ourselves-we-can-not-be-false-to-anyone/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If I can not dance, I shall die!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-pavlova/if-i-can-not-dance-i-shall-die/) [Anna Pavlova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-pavlova/) > [I have looked at so many photographs, I can not see them anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heizer/i-have-looked-at-so-many-photographs-i-can-not-see-them-anymore/) [Michael Heizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heizer/) > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of reason and intuition that can not be defined but is only to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/hinduism-is-not-just-a-faith-it-is-the-union-of-reason-and-intuition/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [All earth's full rivers can not fillThe sea that drinking thirsteth still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/all-earth-s-full-rivers-can-not-fillthe-sea-that-drinking-thirsteth/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Nations are beginning to look to some vague organization, some nebulous course of humanity, to pay their bills and tell them what to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nations-are-beginning-to-look-to-some-vague-organization-some/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) Browse all 567 Can not quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-can-not-have-free-government-without-elections-and-if-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can not" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-can-not-have-free-government-without-elections-and-if-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/abraham-lincoln-88_can-not_we-can-not-have-free-government-without_1221051.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can not have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego, or…” — 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": "We can not have free government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-can-not-have-free-government-without-elections-and-if-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-can-not-have-free-government-without-elections-and-if-the/#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 } } ] } ```