Karl Waters
“…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people…” – A.Lincoln, 1863.
It is commonly taken that this statement is an original line from Lincoln. Yet Lincoln had a copy of Theodore Parker’s addresses in which was said “Democracy is direct self-government, over all the people, by all the people, and for all the people”.
Theodore Parker’s phrase comes from Webster who four years before him said “The people’s government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people”.
Furthermore, Webster may have taken inspiration from President J.Monroe who a third of a century earlier uttered the same phraseology. Yet five hundred years before Monroe, Wyclif in a foreword to a translated bible said “This bible is for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Yet again 400 years BC, Cleon spoke to Athens of a rule that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. And so on and on, into time immemorial….
What I get from this, while slightly drunk, is that if you’re original, you probably suck.
Varsity Toastmasters 