--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was at last untrammelled by…" description: "\"“He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thencefort..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/archibald-henry-grimke-49118_emancipation-proclam_he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitut_144728.jpg" --- # He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions… ![“He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thenceforth ever on his lips. Mr. Lincoln and the Republican party started out to save the Union with slavery. It is the rage now, I know, to extol his…” quote by Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/archibald-henry-grimke-49118_emancipation-proclam_he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitut_144728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/archibald-henry-grimke-49118_emancipation-proclam_he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitut_144728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/archibald-henry-grimke-49118_emancipation-proclam_he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitut_144728.jpg) > ““He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thenceforth ever on his lips. Mr. Lincoln and the Republican party started out to save the Union with slavery. It is the rage now, I know, to extol his marvellous sagacity and statesmanship. And I too will join in the panegyric of his great qualities. But here he was not infallible. For when he issued his Emancipation Proclamation, the South too was weighing the military necessity of a similar measure. Justice was Sumner’s solitary expedient, right his unfailing sagacity. Of no other American statesman can they be so unqualifiedly affirmed. They are indeed his peculiar distinction and glory. Here he is the transcendent figure in our political history. And”” [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical figures are praised for their achievements, yet their actions often have complex, contradictory motives and consequences. **In simple terms:** Heroes have mixed motives and outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize both virtues and flaws in leaders. Themes history leadership complexity morality Mood critical thoughtful Type historical ethical When to use this quote - biography study - political debate - ethical education - media analysis Key Concepts contradictory motives legacy assessment political analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a leader’s true impact? - What lessons arise from their contradictions? A Different Perspective Simplified narratives can mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emancipation proclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation-proclamation/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“After the Lincoln-Douglas debates made Lincoln a nationally recognized politician, Illinois papers began to mention Lincoln as a Republican candidate for President throughout 1859. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/after-the-lincoln-douglas-debates-made-lincoln-a-nationally/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Politically I did not like Mr. Lincoln, for in him I saw the destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/politically-i-did-not-like-mr-lincoln-for-in-him-i-saw-the-destroyer/) [Belle Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-boyd/) > [“Mr. Lincoln, the merciful and just, who cries large tears over Mrs. Bixby's five boys, hasn't any tears to shed about the thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/mr-lincoln-the-merciful-and-just-who-cries-large-tears-over-mrs-bixby/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were: 'What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-todd-lincoln/mr-lincoln-s-maxim-and-philosophy-were-what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no/) [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-todd-lincoln/) > [When I come to work in this capital, I'll visit Mr. Lincoln every day. I've been walking in his footsteps my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/when-i-come-to-work-in-this-capital-i-ll-visit-mr-lincoln-every-day-i/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewed-from-the-genuine-abolition-ground-mr-lincoln-seemed-tardy-cold/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred yielding his own wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/mr-lincoln-gained-influence-over-men-by-making-them-feel-that-it-was/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“No one who has ever done anything worth doing has gone uncriticized. As regards the matter at hand (as regards him), I am, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/no-one-who-has-ever-done-anything-worth-doing-has-gone-uncriticized/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me that he had never professed to be a military man or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-my-first-interview-with-mr-lincoln-alone-he-stated-to-me-that-he/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/really-mr-lincoln-i-have-had-enough-of-this-show-business/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Mr. Lincoln is already defeated. He cannot be re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-greeley/mr-lincoln-is-already-defeated-he-cannot-be-re-elected/) [Horace Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-greeley/) > [“Abraham Lincoln is usually regarded as the greatest of all American presidents. When experts rated the presidents on the desire to please others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/abraham-lincoln-is-usually-regarded-as-the-greatest-of-all-american/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Frederick Douglass called Republicans the ‘Party of freedom and progress,’ and the first Republican president was Abraham Lincoln, the author of the Emancipation Proclamation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-guillory/frederick-douglass-called-republicans-the-party-of-freedom-and/) [Elbert Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-guillory/) > [Lincoln has accepted America as a biracial society. He's talking about giving at least some black men the right to vote. In the Emancipation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/lincoln-has-accepted-america-as-a-biracial-society-he-s-talking-about/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln-the-obvious-truth-that-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) ## More by Archibald Henry Grimke > [“Rebellion with him cancelled the slave covenants of the Constitution and discharged the North from their further observance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/rebellion-with-him-cancelled-the-slave-covenants-of-the-constitution/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“These great men had no reciprocal appreciation the one for the other. Sumner was honest in the belief that Grant knew nothing but war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/these-great-men-had-no-reciprocal-appreciation-the-one-for-the-other/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“But the freedom won by the men of 1776 was incomplete without the freedom for which the men of 1833 were striving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/but-the-freedom-won-by-the-men-of-1776-was-incomplete-without-the/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“Like all of Mr. Sumner’s speeches, this speech was carefully written out and largely memorized. He was deficient in the qualities of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/like-all-of-mr-sumner-s-speeches-this-speech-was-carefully-written/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“Sumner’s entrance into the Senate was into the midst of a hostile camp. On either side of the chamber enemies confronted him. Southern Whigs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/sumner-s-entrance-into-the-senate-was-into-the-midst-of-a-hostile/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“He was Anglo-Saxon enough, Puritan and student of history enough to be sensible of the efficacy of blood and iron, at times, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/he-was-anglo-saxon-enough-puritan-and-student-of-history-enough-to-be/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“He must needs stand erect, inflexible, uncompromising, an image of Puritan intolerance and Puritan grandeur. Against his granite-like character and convictions the insolence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/he-must-needs-stand-erect-inflexible-uncompromising-an-image-of/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) [Explore all 8 Archibald Henry Grimke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) ## More Emancipation proclamation quotes > [That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ans sixty-three, all persons held as slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-on-the-first-day-of-january-in-the-year-of-our-lord-one-thousand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [More than 150 years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, slavery is illegal almost everywhere. But it is still not abolished - not even here, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/more-than-150-years-after-lincoln-s-emancipation-proclamation-slavery/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [The Emancipation Proclamation is predicated upon the idea that the President may so annul the constitutions and laws of sovereign states, overthrow their domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melville-fuller/the-emancipation-proclamation-is-predicated-upon-the-idea-that-the/) [Melville Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melville-fuller/) > [If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-could-save-the-union-without-freeing-any-slave-i-would-do-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-giving-freedom-to-the-slave-we-assure-freedom-to-the-free/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Well, before the New Deal...\[The Emancipation Proclamation\] would be a good start. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/well-before-the-new-deal-the-emancipation-proclamation-would-be-a/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“It takes no more research than a trip to almost any public library or college to show the incredibly lopsided coverage of slavery in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/it-takes-no-more-research-than-a-trip-to-almost-any-public-library-or/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [You know, the Emancipation Proclamation was like giving freedom to domestic animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-know-the-emancipation-proclamation-was-like-giving-freedom-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“It is notorious that the news of the Emancipation Proclamation was kept from the people of Texas and not celebrated until 'Juneteenth'. There may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-is-notorious-that-the-news-of-the-emancipation-proclamation-was/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Sumner’s mind keeping the peace abroad was connected with freeing the slaves at home. Repeatedly he tried to convince Lincoln that by issuing an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-donald/sumner-s-mind-keeping-the-peace-abroad-was-connected-with-freeing-the/) [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) > [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/) > [“Freedom is an expensive gift always worth fighting for. Even if it costs us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marck-e-estemil/freedom-is-an-expensive-gift-always-worth-fighting-for-even-if-it/) Marck E. Estemil > [I repeat the declaration made a year ago, that 'while I remain in my present position I shall not attempt to retract or modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-repeat-the-declaration-made-a-year-ago-that-while-i-remain-in-my/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Abraham Lincoln is usually regarded as the greatest of all American presidents. When experts rated the presidents on the desire to please others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/abraham-lincoln-is-usually-regarded-as-the-greatest-of-all-american/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) [Browse all 44 Emancipation proclamation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emancipation-proclamation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thenceforth ever on his lips. Mr. Lincoln and the Republican party started out to save the Union with slavery. It is the rage now, I know, to extol his marvellous sagacity and statesmanship. And I too will join in the panegyric of his great qualities. But here he was not infallible. For when he issued his Emancipation Proclamation, the South too was weighing the military necessity of a similar measure. Justice was Sumner’s solitary expedient, right his unfailing sagacity. Of no other American statesman can they be so unqualifiedly affirmed. They are indeed his peculiar distinction and glory. 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