During the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858, Lincoln used the "House divided against itself" statement as a reference to the issue of slavery. Lincoln was saying in effect that as long as the nation was fighting over the slavery issue, it would cause great harm to itself.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln President said a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln was able to unite a nation that was deeply divided when he took over.
In 1858
When Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided against itself could not stand, he was referring to the issue of slavery. He did not believe the US government could endure operating with one half allowing slavery and the other not.
Lincoln was quoting a Biblical reference. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." He was referring to the tensions within the USA, and the conflict between its two widely different societies, North and South.
The original quote is from the Gospel of St. Mark: "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." It was borrowed by Abraham Lincoln.
June 16,1858:Lincoln delivered his A House Divided speech.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
David Morse.
The "house" is the Union, the country, used metaphorically as in a family or clan.
His most well know was the Gettysburg Address. Another is A House Divided.