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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lincoln states he forgives if people repent, but he must prioritize saving the government above all else.
In plain terms
I forgive people who repent, but saving the government is my most important task.
What can you take from it?
Saving the nation takes precedence over personal forgiveness.

Where it applies

  • political leadership
  • national crisis
  • public office

Putting it to work

  • prioritize public duty over personal grievances

Questions to consider

  • When does duty override mercy?
  • What justifies sacrificing personal values?

Another view

Focusing solely on government survival might alienate those seeking forgiveness.

More from Abraham Lincoln

  1. Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the sup…

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  2. You and I are different races. We have between us a broader difference than exists between almost any other races. Whether it be right or wrong, I need not dis…

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  3. It was with the deepest regret that the Executive found the duty of employing the war-power, in defence of the government, forced upon him. He could but perfor…

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