As an old History/Political Science major (and Philosophy minor) I dearly love to read about significant historical figures, especially those who have directly contributed to matters or situations impacting my lifetime. It's for this reason that I recently began reading and in some cases re-reading literature on Abe Lincoln. He's best known for his thinking, writing and
speeches as I'm sure you all know quite well. Most
notably among his writings are the following expressions, that are my
favs:
-"No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare the time for personal contention." Amen to that...
-"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot." Bingo !! Man do we need more of these...
-"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." Read that one again...it's worth it.
-"I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow." He was a
Dowist, indeed.
And so he did...Lincoln is known for having planted many, wonderful "flowers" in his time. We learned many of these in school.
Also, I recently came across and also enjoyed the photo, above, and how it dovetails nicely into the nascent idea of Lincoln that came to mind during these recent readings: i.e., a person going along quite well in life, fully knowing and seeing the cold, hard and possibly tumultuous times just ahead. However, they continue to bravely advance and make their way towards it anyway. It is their destiny to do this.
