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Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
This phrase defines government through an internal standard—as an expression of the people's collective will and purpose—rather than an external imposition. It leans toward an internal standard, suggesting that true governance emerges from within the citizenry, not from outside authority.