"If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution — certainly would if such a right were a vital one. But such is not our case. All the vital rights of minorities and of individuals are so plainly assured to them by affirmations and negations, guarantees and prohibitions, in the Constitution, that controversies never arise concerning them. But no organic law can ever be framed with a provision specifically applicable to every question which may occur in practical administration. No foresight can anticipate, nor any document of reasonable length contain, express provisions for all possible questions."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Lawyers from the United StatesAbolitionistsPoliticians from IllinoisAbraham LincolnPeople of the American Civil War
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Abraham Lincoln
1809 – 1865
Präsident der USA (1861-1865)
663 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Abraham Lincoln →
Related Quotes
"It is rather for us here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increa…"
"It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world. They are the two pr…"
"Those arguments that are made, that the inferior race are to be treated with as much allowance as they are capable of…"
"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisd…"
"I was a brute last night."
"Miscellany"
"The Writings of Abraham Lincoln"
"John Summerfield Staples, President Lincoln's "Substitute""
"Abraham Lincoln's Assassination"
"Meditations on the Divine Will (from an undated manuscript found among his papers by one of his secretaries found amo…"