Who said “To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from…”?

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Abraham Lincoln. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceAddress before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society (1859)

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“To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization.”
VerifiedAddress before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society (1859) · evidenceBrotherhood
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society (1859).

APA

Lincoln, A. (n.d.). To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8803-to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-which/

MLA

Lincoln, Abraham. “To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8803-to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-which/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Lincoln, Abraham. “To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8803-to-correct-the-evils-great-and-small-which/.