The original source of the phrase is not a US President but Jesus, quoted in the New Testament (Matthew 12:25). He used it as an argument against accusations that the reason he could cast out demons was that he was a demon himself.
It was rather famously quoted by Abraham Lincoln in an 1858 speech (which has come to be known as the House Divided speech). He wasn't president yet, though; it was his acceptance speech upon being nominated as the Republican candidate for US Senator from Illinois. (He wound up losing to the Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas.)
Lincoln used the phrase in reference to slavery, and explained that he didn't think the nation would fall, he thought it would become "all one thing or all the other" ... either slavery would be abolished in the entire country, or it would be re-established in the entire country.
Lincoln was quoting from Luke 11:17 - "Jesus knew their thoughts and said. 'Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall" (NIV version).
Jesus Christ said that:
Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mark 3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
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.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
abraham lincoln
Abraham Lincoln President said a house divided against itself cannot stand.
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.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
Abraham Lincoln
A house. A house divided amongst itself can't stand
He wasn't talking about war, he was talking about the slaves. It was a a bible quote. And Jesus knew their [the Pharisees'] thoughts, and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." He was saying a nation can't be half in slavery and half free.
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.
Matthew 12:25 ( also mentioned in Mark 3 and Luke 11) And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand The following verse is similar. 25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. It is clear Lincoln, who was known to read his Bible, was alluding to either of these, and applying the fairly straightforward principles contained therein to the situation then prevailing in the US.
His reference is to the states that had left the union . He felt that he couldn't allow them to leave.
He was making a reference to the 12 states that left the union. Hence "a house divided" and he meant that if it stayed that way the nation couldn't stay a nation.
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.
Abraham Lincoln