-135- LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT 23 - CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Forms S-3 and S-8 (Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Numbers 33-51415, 33-51721, 33-59444, 33-52667, 33-13605, 33-4711, 33-13445, and 2-77599) of Lincoln National Corporation and in the related Prospectuses of our report dated February 10, 1994, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Lincoln National Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1993. ERNST & YOUNG Fort Wayne, Indiana March 25, 1994