--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Viewing the man from the genuine…" description: "\"Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed cold, tardy, weak and unequal to the task. But, viewing him from the sentiment..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg" --- # Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr… ![“Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed cold, tardy, weak and unequal to the task. But, viewing him from the sentiments of his people, which as a statesman he was bound to respect, then his actions were swift, bold, radical and decisive. Taking the man in the…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg) > “Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed cold, tardy, weak and unequal to the task. But, viewing him from the sentiments of his people, which as a statesman he was bound to respect, then his actions were swift, bold, radical and decisive. Taking the man in the whole, balancing the tremendous magnitude of the situation, and the necessary means to ends, Infinite Wisdom has rarely sent a man into the world more perfectly suited to his mission than Abraham Lincoln.” [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lincoln balanced criticism and praise, showing nuanced leadership amid crisis. **In simple terms:** Lincoln’s actions were swift, bold, and decisive despite mixed views. Key Takeaway Assess leaders holistically, not by single traits. Themes history leadership balance Mood analytical respectful Type historical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - education - public discourse Key Concepts political strategy ethical judgment Questions to Reflect On - How do we evaluate historical figures fairly? - What traits define effective leadership? A Different Perspective Complexity can be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abolitionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abolitionist/) [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Mr. Lincoln was not only a great President, but a great man - too great to be small in anything. In his company I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/mr-lincoln-was-not-only-a-great-president-but-a-great-man-too-great/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [I escaped from slavery and became a leading abolitionist and speaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-escaped-from-slavery-and-became-a-leading-abolitionist-and-speaker/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [ In one point of view, we, the abolitionists and colored people, should meet \[the Dred Scott\] decision, unlooked for and monstrous as it appears,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/in-one-point-of-view-we-the-abolitionists-and-colored-people-should/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [I salute to you Commander and I sneeze 'Cause I have Now an Allergy To your policies it seems Where have we gone wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-salute-to-you-commander-and-i-sneeze-cause-i-have-now-an-allergy-to/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“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/) > [America is thataway, Mr. Lincoln," laughed Davis, pointing north. "You're in Mississippi now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/america-is-thataway-mr-lincoln-laughed-davis-pointing-north-you-re-in/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thenceforth ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitutional-conditions-and/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) ## More by Frederick Douglass > [“A treacherous President stood in the way; and it can be easily seen how reluctant good men might be to admit an apostasy which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-treacherous-president-stood-in-the-way-and-it-can-be-easily-seen/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [“But I should be false in the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. I prefer to be true to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/but-i-should-be-false-in-the-earliest-sentiments-of-my-soul-if-i/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A man who will enslave his own blood, may not be safely relied on for magnamity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-man-who-will-enslave-his-own-blood-may-not-be-safely-relied-on-for/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, - a justifier of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-assert-most-unhesitatingly-that-the-religion-of-the-south-is-a-mere/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes—a justifier of the most appalling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-assert-most-unhesitatingly-that-the-religion-of-the-south-is-a-mere-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-limits-of-tyrants-are-prescribed-by-the-endurance-of-those-whom/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/power-concedes-nothing-without-a-demand-it-never-did-and-it-never-will/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“We have all met a class of men, very remarkable for their activity, and who yet make but little headway in life; men who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/we-have-all-met-a-class-of-men-very-remarkable-for-their-activity-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/the-fatal-poison-of-irresponsible-power-was-already-in-her-hands-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-battle-lost-or-won-is-easily-described-understood-and-appreciated/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/knowledge-makes-a-man-unfit-to-be-a-slave/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my-2/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/at-a-time-like-this-scorching-irony-not-convincing-argument-is-needed/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) [Explore all 348 Frederick Douglass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## More Abolitionist quotes > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/) Samuel Gridley Howe > [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [“That was when I realized we weren’t born to be slaves. It was ignorant for any man to think he could be the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-grewal/that-was-when-i-realized-we-weren-t-born-to-be-slaves-it-was-ignorant/) [Jay Grewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-grewal/) > [I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies; for the truth is powerful and will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-feel-safe-even-in-the-midst-of-my-enemies-for-the-truth-is-powerful/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [One of the songs that stayed in my head that I really considered a lot was an old folk song called 'John Brown' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/one-of-the-songs-that-stayed-in-my-head-that-i-really-considered-a/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [Whether by the House or by the People, if an Abolitionist be chosen President of the United States, you will have presented to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/whether-by-the-house-or-by-the-people-if-an-abolitionist-be-chosen/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [Many abolitionists have yet to learn the ABC of woman's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/many-abolitionists-have-yet-to-learn-the-abc-of-woman-s-rights/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [You point out that war is only a symptom of the whole horrid business of human behavior, and cannot be isolated. And that, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/you-point-out-that-war-is-only-a-symptom-of-the-whole-horrid-business/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [It’s time for a 21st-century abolitionist movement in the U.S and around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/it-s-time-for-a-21st-century-abolitionist-movement-in-the-u-s-and/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [If, while I hear the wild shriek of the slave mother robbed of her little ones, I do not open my mouth, am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-stone/if-while-i-hear-the-wild-shriek-of-the-slave-mother-robbed-of-her/) [Lucy Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-stone/) > [I was in favour of the death penalty, and disposed to regard abolitionists as people whose hearts were bigger than their heads. Four years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gowers/i-was-in-favour-of-the-death-penalty-and-disposed-to-regard/) Ernest Gowers > [There are those who view the abolitionists as just maniacs, apolitical fanatics who helped to cause the war, and Lincoln is the model of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/there-are-those-who-view-the-abolitionists-as-just-maniacs-apolitical/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [In such a condition of affairs, the practical difference between the abolitionist and the sympathizer, to the man who lost his slave and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sergeant-wise/in-such-a-condition-of-affairs-the-practical-difference-between-the/) [John Sergeant Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sergeant-wise/) > [If I had to write down the most important people in the history of this planet, No.1 would be (abolitionist) John Brown. Why? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/if-i-had-to-write-down-the-most-important-people-in-the-history-of/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [“These men are all talk. What we need is action—action!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brown/these-men-are-all-talk-what-we-need-is-action-action/) [John Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brown/) [Browse all 90 Abolitionist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abolitionist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed cold, tardy, weak and unequal to the task. But, viewing him from the sentiments of his people, which as a statesman he was bound to respect, then his actions were swift, bold, radical and decisive. Taking the man in the whole, balancing the tremendous magnitude of the situation, and the necessary means to ends, Infinite Wisdom has rarely sent a man into the world more perfectly suited to his mission than Abraham Lincoln.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Douglass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-abolitionist-ground-mr-lincoln/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abolitionist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-abolitionist-ground-mr-lincoln/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/frederick-douglass-859_abolitionist_viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-aboliti_3061402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Viewing the man from the genuine abolitionist ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed cold, tardy, weak and unequal to…” — Frederick Douglass", "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": "Frederick Douglass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Viewing the man from the genuine...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-abolitionist-ground-mr-lincoln/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewing-the-man-from-the-genuine-abolitionist-ground-mr-lincoln/#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 } } ] } ```