“When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that’s my religion.”
- 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
“When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, and that’s my religion.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Abraham Lincoln’s simple, yet profound approach to morality and personal integrity. It suggests that Lincoln’s moral compass was grounded in an intuitive sense of right and wrong, rather than adherence to a specific religious doctrine or creed. His belief that the feeling of doing good or bad provided an immediate measure of his actions speaks to a deeply personal and self-reflective morality, one that does not rely on external rules or religious authority, but on an internal sense of conscience. This form of moral self-assessment is both humble and accessible, suggesting that morality is not just about abstract principles but about everyday decisions that affect the individual’s sense of right and wrong.
Historically, this quote reflects the pragmatic and self-taught nature of Lincoln’s character. While Lincoln was raised in a religious environment and often referenced divine guidance in his speeches, he also recognized that moral choices were something that every individual must grapple with personally. Lincoln’s life was marked by personal struggle and self-examination, especially in the difficult decisions he faced during the Civil War. His moral reflections in the midst of national division were often shaped by his own experiences with failure and success and his quest for personal integrity. His simple yet effective sense of right and wrong likely informed many of his decisions, including his evolving stance on slavery and union preservation.
In modern times, this quote speaks to the universal and human aspect of moral reflection. It resonates with those who believe that ethics and morality are not solely determined by religious or philosophical systems but are deeply connected to the individual’s conscience and actions. Lincoln’s perspective challenges us to evaluate our own behavior and decisions through a straightforward lens of empathy and integrity—asking whether our actions bring us closer to doing good or lead us toward doing harm. It reminds us that morality is ultimately about personal accountability, and that each of us can find our own path to living with honesty and self-respect, without the need for complex justifications.
