“The assertion that ‘all men are created equal’ was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use.”
- February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865
- American
- Politician, lawyer
- As the 16th President of the United States, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation and led the Civil War to maintain the unity of the nation.
Quote
“The assertion that ‘all men are created equal’ was of no practical use in effecting our separation from Great Britain and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Abraham Lincoln’s interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the principles it enshrined. Lincoln is acknowledging that the famous phrase “all men are created equal” did not have an immediate, practical role in justifying the American Revolution or separating from Great Britain. Instead, Lincoln argues that this phrase was included in the Declaration not merely as a rhetorical tool for independence but as a moral foundation intended for use in the future. This understanding was integral to Lincoln’s stance on slavery, civil rights, and the broader ideals of freedom and equality.
Historically, Lincoln’s view was that while the American Revolution focused more on issues of self-governance and independence from Britain, the principle of equality expressed in the Declaration was a long-term vision—one that would later serve as a rallying cry for the abolition of slavery and the expansion of civil rights. Lincoln famously invoked the Declaration’s principles during the Civil War, particularly in his Gettysburg Address, as part of his broader argument for a new birth of freedom and the need for the nation to live up to its founding ideals. In this context, Lincoln was positioning the Declaration’s statement as a guiding light for future generations, urging America to fulfill its promise of equality for all people, regardless of race.
In modern application, Lincoln’s statement speaks to the importance of foundational principles in shaping societal progress. The assertion that “all men are created equal” is a fundamental idea that continues to resonate today in the fight for equal rights, whether in terms of racial equality, gender equality, or LGBTQ+ rights. Just as the Civil Rights Movement used the Declaration’s ideals to advance social change in the 1960s, the statement still serves as a touchstone for debates about justice and equality, showing how founding principles can be interpreted and applied in evolving ways over time.
