Abraham Lincoln, remarks in the Illinois legislature (January 11, 1837), in Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 1 (1953), p. 65. A related expression is, "You must be vocal at all times on political matters, pro or con, voicing your opinion so that it may be heard by those who govern," attributed to David L. Lawrence, governor of Pennsylvania 1958–1962. Reported as unverified in Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989).

Singular indeed that the people should be writhing under oppression and injury, and yet not one among them to be found, to raise the voice of complaint.

— Abraham Lincoln on Speaking out

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Singular indeed that the people should be writhing under oppression and injury, and yet not one among them to be found, to raise the voice of complaint." in the context of "Abraham Lincoln, remarks in the Illinois legislature (January 11, 1837), in Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 1 (1953), p. 65. A related expression is, "You must be vocal at all times on political matters, pro or con, voicing your opinion so that it may be heard by those who govern," attributed to David L. Lawrence, governor of Pennsylvania 1958–1962. Reported as unverified in Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations (1989)." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Speaking out" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed February 05, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Abraham Lincoln

About Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer and politician, steered the United States through its most tumultuous period, the Civil War. His unwavering commitment to preserving the Union and abolishing slavery forever altered the course of American history and enshrined him as a champion of equality and justice.