Friday, February 28, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 140

During the run-up to the presidential election of 1864 the Republican Party appeared in complete disarray and the opposition rejoiced. One who was clearly disturbed about what appeared to be the impending defeat of the Republican ticket came to Lincoln about it. The president seemed oddly unfazed by the whole thing. 'It is not worth fretting about; it reminds me of an old acquaintance who having a son of a scientific turn bought him a microscope. The boy went around experimenting with his glass on everything that came his way. One day at the dinner table his father took up a piece of cheese. “Don't eat that, father” said the boy; “it is full of wrigglers.” “My son,” replied the old gentleman, taking at the same time a huge bite, “let 'em wriggle; I can stand it if they can.''’

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 139

'Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Monday, February 24, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 13

'A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 137

'First convince a man that you are his sincere friend. Therein is the drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what you will, is the great high road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 13

As a lawyer, Lincoln often discouraged people from bringing unnecessary lawsuits. Once, a man wanted him to bring a suit for $2.50 against a penniless man, and Lincoln could not talk him out of it. Lincoln charged him a retainer of $10.00, won the case, kept $5.00 for himself and gave the other $5.00 to the penniless defendant who promptly paid the $2.50 he owed and kept the rest for himself. Thus everyone involved won including the angry client who, though he paid dearly for it, felt his revenge vindicated.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 135

One day Lincoln was visiting the sick and wounded. He entered a tent in which lay Confederate wounded. A correspondent quoted him as saying they were 'enemies through uncontrollable circumstances.' After a silence, Confederates came forward and without words shook the hand of the President. Some were too sore and broken to walk or to sit up. The President went among these, took some by the hand, wished them good cheer, and said they should have the best of care. The correspondent wrote, 'Beholders wept at the interview. Most of the Confederates, even, were moved to tears.'

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 134

Following Lincoln’s loss in the senate race against Stephen Douglas in 1858 he said, 'I am glad I made the late race. It gave me a hearing on the great and durable questions of the age, which I could have had in no other way; and though I now sink out of view, and shall be forgotten, I believe I have made some marks which will tell for the cause of civil liberty long after I am gone.'

Friday, February 14, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 133

'As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 132

For Lincoln ambition for a high station in life, as his law partner of nearly 20 years William Herndon put it, was 'a little engine that knew no rest.'


Monday, February 10, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 131

 ‘As labor is the common burden of our race, so the effort of some to shift the burden onto the shoulders of others is the great durable curse of the race.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 130

'Force is all-conquering but its victories are short-lived.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 128

One day Senator Sumner strolled in to find the President polishing his own boots. 'Why, Mr. President, do you polish your own boots?' The President replied, 'Whose boots do you think I polished?'

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 127

On meeting General Philip Sheridan, who was only 5' 4,” Lincoln shook his hand and said, 'General Sheridan, when this peculiar war began I thought cavalrymen should be at least 6 feet 4 inches high, but,' still gazing down on the short general, 'I have changed my mind: 5' 4’ will do in a pinch.'
- Abraham Lincoln