Abraham Lincoln: “By general law, life and limb must be protected, yet often a limb must…”

On the recordApril 4, 1864

By general law, life and limb must be protected, yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never wisely given to save a limb.

Said by

Republican · Illinois

Source

Explaining his wartime decisions, Lincoln uses a medical analogy to illustrate the necessity of extreme measures to preserve the nation.

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Abraham Lincoln: “By general law, life and limb must be protected, yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never…”