---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has ever threatened our liberty and…"
description: "\"What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?\" — Abraham Lincoln"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png"
---

#  What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save…

![“What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png)

> “What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?”

[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.

Freedom is threatened when institutions like slavery persist, demanding vigilance.

**In simple terms:** Slavery endangers liberty.

Key Takeaway

Guard against oppressive systems.

Themes

freedom justice political vigilance

Mood

serious reflective

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

- legislation
- public policy
- civil rights activism
- education
- community organizing

Key Concepts

slavery institutional oppression

Questions to Reflect On

- What modern institutions threaten liberty?
- How can citizens effectively oppose them?

A Different Perspective

Complex historical context may oversimplify causes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Institution Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-slavery-781295/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Liberty Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty-prosperity-2520266/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) [Threatened Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened-liberty-4598880/)

## Related quotes

> [The liberty, prosperity, and the happiness of our country will always be the object of my most fervent prayers to the Supreme Author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-liberty-prosperity-and-the-happiness-of-our-country-will-always/)

[James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/)

> [I am thankful for our democracy, liberty, and prosperity, and that so many Americans have dedicated their lives to improving our country and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcee-hastings/i-am-thankful-for-our-democracy-liberty-and-prosperity-and-that-so/)

[Alcee Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcee-hastings/)

> [In the first place, I insist that our fathers did not make this nation half slave and half free, or part slave and part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-the-first-place-i-insist-that-our-fathers-did-not-make-this-nation/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We believe that the spreading out and perpetuity of the institution of slavery impairs the general welfare. We believe - nay, we know, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-believe-that-the-spreading-out-and-perpetuity-of-the-institution/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-but-quote-from-one-of-those-speeches-when-i-declare-that-i-have/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-no-purpose-directly-or-indirectly-to-interfere-with-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Without the institution of slavery, civilization would never have been achieved, for no one could ever have done anything intellectual if he had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/without-the-institution-of-slavery-civilization-would-never-have-been/)

[Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/)

> [“The institution of slavery was, for a quarter millennium, the conversion of human beings into currency, into machines who existed solely for the profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-wilkerson/the-institution-of-slavery-was-for-a-quarter-millennium-the/)

[Isabel Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-wilkerson/)

> [If we do not restore the Institution of Property we cannot escape restoring the Institution of Slavery; there is no third course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/if-we-do-not-restore-the-institution-of-property-we-cannot-escape/)

[Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/)

> [The real difference of interests, lay not between large and small, but between the Northern and Southern states. The institution of slavery and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-real-difference-of-interests-lay-not-between-large-and-small-but/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“Banning the institution of slavery itself long remained only a distant hope in much of Africa and the Middle East, even after it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/banning-the-institution-of-slavery-itself-long-remained-only-a/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [“I never will, I never can, worship a God who upholds the institution of slavery. Such a God I hate and defy. I neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-never-will-i-never-can-worship-a-god-who-upholds-the-institution-of/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [We must look at the institution of slavery as publicists, and not as casuists. It is a question of law, and not a case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-brooke-taney/we-must-look-at-the-institution-of-slavery-as-publicists-and-not-as/)

[Roger Brooke Taney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-brooke-taney/)

> [“An economy that depends on slavery needs to promote images of slaves that “justify” the institution of slavery. The contemporary economy depends right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/an-economy-that-depends-on-slavery-needs-to-promote-images-of-slaves/)

[Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/)

> [It was only with the rise of capitalism and the need for workers to be freer, more mobile, and prosperous, that societies were able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/it-was-only-with-the-rise-of-capitalism-and-the-need-for-workers-to/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

## 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 Freedom quotes

> [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/)

[Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [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/)

> [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/)

[Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/)

[Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/)

> [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/)

[James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/)

[Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/)

> [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/)

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/)

> [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/)

[Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/)

[Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Abraham Lincoln"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and-prosperity-save-and-except/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Freedom"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and-prosperity-save-and-except/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c5/abraham-lincoln-88_freedom_what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and_2163234.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What has ever threatened our liberty and prosperity save and except this institution of Slavery?” — 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": "What has ever threatened our liberty...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and-prosperity-save-and-except/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-has-ever-threatened-our-liberty-and-prosperity-save-and-except/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
