Abraham Lincoln once said, "I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me.
2006-11-04 14:12:33 · 13 answers · asked by ? 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
I agree. He wanted to do what was right. . to remain true to himself and what he and his conscience said was the right thing to do, all along.
That way, even if everyone else abandoned him, he himself (down inside) would know he had done the right thing and had always had a clear conscience.
(which, by the way, is a part of our communication with God - that's how God set it up, so that He would use our conscience to communicate with us . .
some people have a seared conscience, tho'. . so they have lost any communication with God, because they stopped listening to Him long ago.
2006-11-04 14:24:30 · answer #1 · answered by Wayne A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
President Lincoln was referring to the Slavery Issue and the fact that it basically started the civil war. He was indicating that he, like our modern day president, felt his decision was the right thing to do. It may have been the wrong time or handled poorly but ultimately it was the right thing to do.
His reference was that many people felt salvary was not a good enough reason to cost 400,000 lives. Also known as the Civil War. And many people of the era reportedidly wanted his head.
We all only have one person we must ultimately answer to. That is ourselves. Which is what he meant.
2006-11-08 07:29:36 · answer #2 · answered by mikeae 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being Abe lincoln, all the quote means that he wanted all to end good in that which he has done and if all the world did not accept it in his end, that at least his best friend " God " would be inside him left for his comfort.
2006-11-04 22:58:51 · answer #3 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that what it means is that in his leadership he plans to follow his own beliefs and do whatever it takes to accomplish what he feels called to do. In saying "... I have lost every friend on earth, I shall at least have on friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me." I believe he means that no matter what, he has faith in himself and will always hold loyal to the values that he holds dear.
2006-11-04 14:26:51 · answer #4 · answered by Heather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He meant that he wants to run the country, not for everyone else's approval, but for what he thinks is right. If he truly believes in the end that he did the right thing, he will have succeeded.
2006-11-04 14:41:44 · answer #5 · answered by spongefreak 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He knew he made the right decision, even though many southerners did not want the slaves to be free, they were and that was def. a good choice by him.
2006-11-04 14:56:09 · answer #6 · answered by ___________ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that he wanted to do what he thought was the RIGHT thing. He wanted to be able to have a clear conscience when he was no longer President.
2006-11-04 14:18:50 · answer #7 · answered by mortonvalley 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If only the current president had this kind of morality. But he wouldn't even understand the quote.
2006-11-04 14:21:41 · answer #8 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he meant that no matter how many enemies he made that "to thine own self be true." When he left the precidency he would leave clean and clear.
2006-11-04 14:20:03 · answer #9 · answered by ஐAldaஐ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is really deep. I would like to know too. Good luck. Great question
2006-11-04 14:21:04 · answer #10 · answered by wingedladyk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋