“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” —Abraham Lincoln
On President’s Day, Ray Dalio shared a quote from the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, amid a flurry of political unrest in the United States, including . Lincoln’s quote emphasizes the importance of national integrity and the importance of standing together to keep the nation undivided.
What does the quote mean?
“A house divided against itself cannot stand” basically means that a country, organization or group cannot stand firm if it is deeply affected by internal conflict.
When one speaks of a “house divided,” it can mean any group, whether it is an organization, a nation, or a smaller unit.
When a house is divided against itself, the quote says, it cannot stand. It means that internal conflicts can cause rifts within a nation or group and ultimately lead to its downfall.
Read also | Quote of the Day by Abraham Lincoln: “The ballot is stronger than the bullet”
In a broader context, this quote applies to any group that is crippled by internal conflicts and disagreements.
Lincoln famously used this quote in his Springfield speech of 1858, when the country was growing divided over slavery, and warned that he could not permanently maintain a position of being half slave or half free.
Today, the quote has relevance in the US political context amid the ICE killings in Minnesota and the Trump administration’s growing set of immigration rules.
This quote also takes on relevance in America today as Donald Trump loses his credibility ahead of November’s midterm elections. His declining approval rating reflects dissatisfaction among US citizens with his governing style, which has featured stricter immigration policies and sweeping tariffs, among other things.
Read also | Microsoft India President Quote of the Day: “AI will not kill jobs…”Read also | Quote of the day from Emmanuel Macron
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America. Born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809 to parents who could not read or write, he was the first in his family to go to school and supplemented his education with borrowed books.
In his early days, Lincoln worked as a flatboat navigator, storekeeper, soldier, surveyor and postmaster. He was elected to local government in Springfield, Illinois at the age of 25.
He was elected president in 1861 when the US was going through a difficult time.
Lincoln led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.
What is President’s Day?
Ray Dalio shared this Abraham Lincoln quote on President’s Day. It is celebrated every third Monday in February in honor of the presidents of the United States, especially Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. It is celebrated as a federal holiday in the US.
US President Donald Trump also expressed his greetings on the day in a post on Truth Social, saying: “Happy President’s Day! Prices and inflation are falling. The stock market and your 401k are way up. Our military is strong and powerful, our law enforcement is GREAT and our borders are 100% secure. RECO 9 LOWS and RECO RECO (100 YEARS!) murders. The country is bigger, better and stronger than WORK HARD ANYTIME – ENJOY YOUR DAY!”
Ray Dalio shared two more quotes he attributed to Abraham Lincoln that day.
“America will never be destroyed from without. If we falter and lose our liberties, it will be because we have destroyed ourselves.”
This famous quote also echoes Lincoln’s previous quote, which sends a message of internal unity in the US.
The second quote says, “My dream is for a place and a time when America will once again be seen as the last best hope on earth.”
It basically captures Lincoln’s dreams of the USA, which he envisioned as sitting on top.