Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much." - Meaning and context.">
Speech at a Republican Banquet, Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1856; see Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 2 (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1953), p. 532

Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much.

— Abraham Lincoln

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion, can change the government, practically just so much." in the context of "Speech at a Republican Banquet, Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1856; see Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 2 (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1953), p. 532" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Abraham Lincoln" (Quotes, 1850s) 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.