When Herbert J. Taylor developed the four-way test, it was to save the company he was leading.

But in installing the four-way test they chose to look beyond; they believed in the idea that “in right there is might.” Consequently, they chose a purpose that wasn’t financial, they decided to do their best to always be right.

It made me wonder about the meaning of right.

I could see that using the four-way test they had established a path to whatever right could mean. These four questions would help them check in with their attitude while using four values: truth, fairness, kindness, and helpfulness. They trusted that these questions would help them choose what to do. But also, that would help them know what is right in a given situation.

But how could that be enough and have an impact?

Researching this question a quote appeared: “Let us have faith that right makes might, and, in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” It is how Abraham Lincoln ended a speech he gave in 1860 at Cooper Union.

It was a speech Lincoln gave a lot of attention to. In doing so he invested a lot of time in his research to become able to demonstrate his point. He sought to become clear on as many facts as possible and used reason to develop its logic. In doing so, he put all his passion into the preparation and didn’t need to add any to the presentation of the speech itself.

He relied on his ability to follow what had been described as right by the founding fathers and to describe how the Republicans were implementing it. In describing the moral principles they had established, the standard established became apparent.

This speech became a demonstration of Lincoln’s faith in what had been established as right by the founding fathers as well as in his ability to align his own position with it. It also led to Abraham Lincoln being nominated as the presidential candidate for his party.

At the core of Lincoln’s message was the uncompromising assertion that “slavery is wrong,” and his statement of faith that the moral principle will eventually gain the power to assert itself.

It is how he saw that “right makes might.”

He didn’t expect everything to be right in a given moment. He believed that the right that existed could generate more of itself. However, he didn’t do so with an expectation of winning.