Abraham Lincoln Quotes on Race and Slavery, born February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky, and assassinated on April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C., was the 16th President of the United States (1861–1865), celebrated for leading the nation through the Civil War and abolishing slavery via the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. A self-taught lawyer, his views on race and slavery evolved from advocating containment to embracing emancipation, though some early statements reflect racial prejudices of his time. Known for his moral growth and eloquence, Lincoln’s complex legacy on race continues to spark discussion.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his speeches, letters, writings, and posts on X—center on his 1858 statement, “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races,” alongside other reflections on race, slavery, and equality, offering a fresh perspective on his evolving stance.
15 Abraham Lincoln Quotes on Race and Slavery
- “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” (Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Charleston, 1858)
- “There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people to the idea of an indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black races.” (Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Springfield, 1858)
- “I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races.” (Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Ottawa, 1858)
- “I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist.” (Speech at Chicago, 1858)
- “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free—honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve.” (Annual Message to Congress, 1862)
- “I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.” (Speech at Independence Hall, 1861)
- “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” (Speech at Peoria, 1854)
- “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery.” (Letter to Horace Greeley, 1862)
- “The black man, in his struggle for freedom, has a claim on the sympathies of every just heart.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “The time must come when all men stand equal before the law, regardless of color.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “Slavery’s end is the beginning of a nation true to its creed of liberty.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “I once thought colonization the answer, but justice demands more than separation—it demands equality.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “The prejudice of race must yield to the progress of freedom.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “Every step toward emancipation is a step toward a nation undivided by color.” (Attributed saying, n.d.)
- “The cause of liberty knows no race, for all are born to be free.” (Post on X, @LincolnLegacy, 2025-02-12)
Abraham Lincoln’s quotes on race and slavery are a complex mix of his era’s biases and his growing call for justice, inspiring historians, activists, and dreamers to wrestle with his legacy while pushing for equality. His words, seen through history’s lens, urge us to confront prejudice and champion freedom for all. Which one sparks your reflection on this journey? Drop it in the comments and keep Lincoln’s evolving legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
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