As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.

Abraham Lincoln

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More information about this quote

Topic

Masters and slaves Slavery Democracy Equality

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Journals of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1858 1850s 19th century

Occupation

American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Definition of Democracy." 1 Aug. 1858?

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "On Slavery and Democracy, 1858?" Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Abraham Lincoln about masters and slaves: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.”
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A quote by Abraham Lincoln about masters and slaves: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.”
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A quote by Abraham Lincoln about masters and slaves: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1850s

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Read Song of Myself at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Contradiction Inconsistency Human nature

Author

Walt Whitman
Source
Song of Myself Leaves of Grass
Medium
Poem
Language
English
Time
1855 1850s 19th century
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 51.

Another quote about Slavery

Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.

Thomas Jefferson

Notes on the State of Virginia

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Read Notes on the State of Virginia at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Slavery

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Source
Notes on the State of Virginia
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1785 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas [published anonymously]. Notes on the State of Virginia. Paris: Philippe Denis Pierres, 1785, query 18.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia, edited by Frank Shuffelton. Penguin Classics, 1998, query 18.