--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for…" description: "\"I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: 'If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.' Well, then, if waterboarding does not constitute tor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/christopher-hitchens-117_abraham_i-apply-the-abraham-lincoln-test-for-mor_2823179.jpg" --- # I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: 'If… ![“I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: 'If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.' Well, then, if waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/christopher-hitchens-117_abraham_i-apply-the-abraham-lincoln-test-for-mor_2823179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/christopher-hitchens-117_abraham_i-apply-the-abraham-lincoln-test-for-mor_2823179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/christopher-hitchens-117_abraham_i-apply-the-abraham-lincoln-test-for-mor_2823179.jpg) > “I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: 'If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.' Well, then, if waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a baseline moral is wrong, then all derived morals are invalid, exposing logical flaws. **In simple terms:** If slavery isn’t wrong, nothing is wrong. Key Takeaway Question foundational moral premises. Themes ethics logic human rights Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - debate - education - policy - personal belief Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What core values define your moral judgments? - How do you evaluate moral arguments? A Different Perspective Complex issues may not reduce to simple binaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [Constitute Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitute-torture-3604984/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-wrong-365100/) [Test Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-moral-337764/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Waterboarding Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waterboarding-does-3604985/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wrong Waterboarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-waterboarding-3604983/) ## Related quotes > [If waterboarding does not constitute torture, then there is no such thing as torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-waterboarding-does-not-constitute-torture-then-there-is-no-such/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [In the United States, rising esteem for the military in uniform corresponds to the growing militarization of the society as a whole. All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hardt/in-the-united-states-rising-esteem-for-the-military-in-uniform/) [Michael Hardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hardt/) > [Moral Cowardice That Keeps Us From Speaking Our Minds Is As Dangerous As Irresponsible Talk. The Right Way Is Not Always The Popular And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/moral-cowardice-that-keeps-us-from-speaking-our-minds-is-as-dangerous-2/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Look out for your baby or your friend, of course. That is easy. The test of moral fiber is to stick up for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/look-out-for-your-baby-or-your-friend-of-course-that-is-easy-the-test/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Business is the real test of the moral life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-malloch/business-is-the-real-test-of-the-moral-life/) [Ted Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-malloch/) > [The test of moral ideas is moral results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-blackwell/the-test-of-moral-ideas-is-moral-results/) [Morton Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-blackwell/) > [The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/the-right-way-is-not-always-the-popular-and-easy-way-standing-for/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [Fatal illness has always been viewed as a test of moral character, but in the nineteenth century there is a great reluctance to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/fatal-illness-has-always-been-viewed-as-a-test-of-moral-character-but/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [Temptations, like misfortunes, are sent to test our moral strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/temptations-like-misfortunes-are-sent-to-test-our-moral-strength/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [The test of the moral quality of a civilization is its treatment of the weak and powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/the-test-of-the-moral-quality-of-a-civilization-is-its-treatment-of/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-ultimate-test-of-a-moral-society-is-the-kind-of-world-that-it/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I think of it all as a test. This is a moral examination that one has to pass... to stand up against such social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/i-think-of-it-all-as-a-test-this-is-a-moral-examination-that-one-has/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [“Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/moral-cowardice-that-keeps-us-from-speaking-our-minds-is-as-dangerous/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [It's not that hard to say slavery is wrong after we've abolished it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/it-s-not-that-hard-to-say-slavery-is-wrong-after-we-ve-abolished-it/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [I think that slavery is wrong, morally, socially and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-think-that-slavery-is-wrong-morally-socially-and-politically-i/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I apply the Abraham Lincoln test for moral casuistry: 'If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.' 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