Government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth This line is taken from Abraham Lincoln s - Gettysburg Address Here in this line Lincoln explains the true meaning of democracy He spoke these words at Gettysburg during the Civil War nbsp By saying that the government is of the people he meant that power comes from ordinary citizens The government is not the property of kings or rulers It is not controlled by one group It rises from the wishes and needs of the people By saying that the government is by the people he meant that people have the right to choose their leaders They can vote They can speak They can guide the nation Leaders must listen to the people who elected them By saying that the government is for the people he meant that the government must work to