I'm reading a book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "guardian angel" to "better angel". I don't understand what the phrase means. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph of Lincoln's First Inaugural Address:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I'm reading the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "guardian angel" to "better angel". I don't understand what the phrase means. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph of Lincoln's First Inaugural Address:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I'm reading a book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "guardian angel" to "better angel". I don't understand what the phrase means. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I'm reading a book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "guardian angel" to "better angel". I don't understand what the phrase means. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph of Lincoln's First Inaugural Address:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I'm reading a book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "Guardian angel" to "Better angel". I don't understand what the phrase mean. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Many thanks for your help!

James

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

I'm reading a book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". It mentioned that Lincoln replaced the phase "guardian angel" to "better angel". I don't understand what the phrase means. When we say "better", we are normally comparing two things. It doesn't make sense to me here. May I get your kind help?

Here is the quote, from the final paragraph:

I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.