Recently, I read The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln - A Treasury of Quotations, Anecdotes, and Observations by James Humes.
The quotes were divided by subject which made it easy to understand the context in which the quote was said. There were many things that Abraham Lincoln said that I had not heard before. Some include:
- I say "try" - if we never try, we shall never succeed.
- Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it - the real thing is the tree.
- He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.
- All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother.
- When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.
- I shall meet with some terrible end.
- Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.
- I always assume my audiences are wiser than I am, and I say the most sensible thing I can to them and I never found that they did not understand me.
- Don't shoot too high [when public speaking]. Aim low and the common people will understand you.
- If we could know first where we are and whither we are tending we could better judge what to do and how to do it.
- The pioneer in any movement is not generally the best man to carry that movement to a successful issue. It was so in the old times: Moses began the emancipation of the Jews, but didn't take Israel to the Promised Land after all. He had to make way for Joshua to complete the work.
- If we cannot give freedom to every creature, let us do nothing that will impose slavery upon any other creature.
- Wealth is a superfluity of things we don't need.
Another section of the book was devoted to different things that related to Lincoln's life or appearance - such as his beard or hat, or actions or situations that he was in. Some of the information about Abraham Lincoln that I found interesting included:
- Lincoln, unlike contemporary politicians, employed no speechwriter.
- Lincoln's humility was rooted in an awareness of his and any man's limitations.
- If the log cabin birth and violent death frame his life, the warm colors of his honesty and humanity constitute the picture.
- Lincoln's silk stovepipe hat was part of his office. It served as his desk when he would jot notes on its flat top and also his file drawer where he would keep his datebook, checkbook, and letters. When he would think of an idea, he would scribble it on a piece of paper and then insert it in the hatband.
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