--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I hear anyone arguing for…" description: "\"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png" --- # Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a… ![“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png) > “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” [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. He wishes that those who defend slavery would experience it themselves, highlighting its cruelty. **In simple terms:** Slavery is cruel; wish it on its defenders. Key Takeaway Empathize with victims of oppression. Themes justice empathy slavery human rights retribution Mood somber determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - legal debates - educational curricula - activist protests - personal reflection Key Concepts ethical philosophy human dignity Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if oppressors faced their own oppression? - How can empathy replace retribution? A Different Perspective Violence is not a solution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Arguing Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing-slavery-3383449/) [Feel Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-strong/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hear Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-arguing-464504/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-feel-239899/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-impulse-3383450/) ## Related quotes > [I have always thought that all men should be free; but if any should be slaves, it should be first those who desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-always-thought-that-all-men-should-be-free-but-if-any-should/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“12.       “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/12-whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slavery-i-feel-a-strong-impulse/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [I have a strong impulse to protect history and time and the lineage of events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-have-a-strong-impulse-to-protect-history-and-time-and-the-lineage/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [“As she walked slowly down the hall, she could hear them arguing - nothing violent, nothing impassioned. 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All I know is that compared to her, Shelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/maybe-it-came-from-whacking-at-two-by-fours-and-dreaming-about/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“There was something satisfying about swinging the hammer, hitting the nails, and fixing the porch. It made me feel strong. It made me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-wiersbitzky/there-was-something-satisfying-about-swinging-the-hammer-hitting-the/) [Shannon Wiersbitzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-wiersbitzky/) > [I usually listen to my body and train the body parts that I feel are strong for that particular day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-piana/i-usually-listen-to-my-body-and-train-the-body-parts-that-i-feel-are/) [Rich Piana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-piana/) > [What makes me feel strong? Being in love and work. I must work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/what-makes-me-feel-strong-being-in-love-and-work-i-must-work/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## 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 Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. 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They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slavery-i-feel-a-strong-impulse-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slavery-i-feel-a-strong-impulse-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/abraham-lincoln-88_arguing_whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slave_2791659.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” — 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": "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slavery-i-feel-a-strong-impulse-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/whenever-i-hear-anyone-arguing-for-slavery-i-feel-a-strong-impulse-to/#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 } } ] } ```