“When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government – that is despotism.”
- 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 the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government – that is despotism.”
Explanation
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln is making a powerful argument about the nature of freedom and oppression. He begins by acknowledging that self-government—where an individual governs only themselves—is a fundamental right, implying that each person has the autonomy to make their own decisions and live freely. However, he draws a stark distinction when someone governs not only their own life but also the life of another person. When one individual has power over another, especially without that person’s consent, Lincoln argues that it goes beyond the legitimate authority of self-government and becomes despotism, or tyranny. This comment is particularly relevant to the issue of slavery, where one group (white people) governed another (enslaved Black people), denying them the freedom to govern themselves.
Historically, this quote directly addresses the moral and political contradictions of slavery in the United States. Lincoln is highlighting the injustice of a system where a portion of the population, under the guise of self-governance, exercises absolute control over the lives and rights of another group of people. For Lincoln, the act of enslaving others was not only a personal moral wrong but a fundamental challenge to the values of the American Republic, which was founded on principles of freedom and equality. This quote underscores Lincoln’s growing belief that the abolition of slavery was necessary not just for the sake of the enslaved people, but to preserve the integrity of the United States and its democratic ideals.
In modern contexts, this quote is a powerful reflection on power dynamics, freedom, and justice. It reminds us that true self-government can only exist when every individual has the autonomy to govern their own life. In a broader sense, it challenges contemporary forms of oppression and inequality where one group exercises undue control over another. This quote invites reflection on how we can address various forms of modern despotism, whether in the form of political oppression, economic exploitation, or social inequality, and how societies can strive for true justice and equality by ensuring that all individuals have the right to govern themselves.
