Who said “Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of…”?

Misattributed

Not Abraham Lincoln. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Abraham Lincoln; no source in their known works.

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Authors A–Z
“Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”
— Abraham Lincoln
MisattributedListed as misattributed to Abraham Lincoln; no source in their known works. · evidenceProhibition

Cite this quote

APA

“Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” [Quotation attributed to Abraham Lincoln]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34663-prohibition-will-work-great-injury-to-the-cause/

MLA

“Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” Attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34663-prohibition-will-work-great-injury-to-the-cause/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” Attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/34663-prohibition-will-work-great-injury-to-the-cause/.

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