My quote of the day calendar yesterday, had an excerpt of this  quote :

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it”  – Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.

This quote is taken from Lincoln’s Cooper Union address of 1860, three months before he was nominated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency.

Anti-Slavery

The speech was an emotionally powerful statement against the expansion of slavery, supported by well reasoned argument and logic.

My quote calendar simply stated “Right makes Might” attributed to Abraham Lincoln.  Taken out of context, that is removed from the surrounding sentence and associated goal of the full speech , I struggled to associate this phrase with a great leader like Lincoln.

Fortunately, research into the context gave me a different perspective and all made sense.  I was reminded how important both context and perspective are to assisting with interpreting spoken and written communications.

Historically I would view Lincoln as a collaberative leader who sought consensus.  Reversing the standard “Might makes Right”  which is an arrogant and self righteous proclamation,  is nothing short of brilliant.

Arrogant and Self Righteous -Not

In the context of a reasoned treatise on the evils of slavery, this statement fits for me.  While a bully might believe “Might makes Right” the reverse “Right makes Might”  is clearly more about standing behind your ideals than forcing your will on others.

This is all about using the power of “right” to make positive change.