“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” So said Abraham Lincoln in his “House Divided” speech, given 165 years ago. Many describe contemporary America in the same terms.

Object Details Author Cole, Arthur Charles 1886- Chicago Historical Society Subject Lincoln, Abraham 1809-1865 Speech ... June 16, 1858 Lincoln, Abraham 1809-1865 Views on slavery Date 1923 [c1923] ...

It was 1858, and tensions over slavery were already tearing at the fabric of the nation. In words that would echo through history, Lincoln declared, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” ...

From the commentary, "A good first step is the one Lincoln modeled all his life. We can start today by using compassionate language, a practice that can lead to feeling it in the heart." ...