“There are those who view the abolitionists as just maniacs, apolitical fanatics who helped to cause the war, and Lincoln is the model of responsible statesmanship. I think that is a misconception, the idea that Lincoln knows what's possible and the abolitionists don't.” ThinkingKnowsIdeasWarCausesViewsModelsResponsibleFanaticsMisconceptionManiacsStatesmanshipAbolitionistApolitical Author:Eric Foner
“In a democratic society, as Max Weber said, what is possible is only possible because some people have demanded the impossible. The abolitionists helped to create a public discourse in which men like Lincoln become possible. That doesn't mean Lincoln is an abolitionist. It means there is a public opinion out there which is being influenced by antislavery sentiment.” PeopleMenMeanSaidOpinionImpossibleDemocraticSentimentsDiscoursePublic OpinionMaxDemocratic SocietyAbolitionistPublic DiscourseWeber Author:Eric Foner
