Digest of the Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781974995981
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Biographies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

This collection of humorous anecdotes and inspirational quotes brings to life the Great Emancipator and 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Containing brief biographical sketches of Lincoln's life, and extracts from speeches, correspondence, and remarks attributed to Lincoln, this short volume also includes pictures and photographs pertaining to "Uncle Abe".

The Gettysburg Address in the Handwriting of Abraham Lincoln

Shown is a facsimile copy of the dedicatory remarks made by President Abraham Lincoln at the National Cemetary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863. The original of this copy is now owned by the Illinois State Historical Library, having been purchased in 1944. Five copies of the address in the hand of Lincoln are known to exist.

In a short autobiography Abraham Lincoln wrote "I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky." The son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, young Lincoln was reared to a typical frontier farm life of crop planting and harvesting. During these years, he also did his share of forest clearing and rail splitting and helped to build the family homestead from the virgin forest. As a young man the Lincoln family moved to Southern Indiana where he spent his formative years.

Possessed of less than one year's formal education, as a youngster, Lincoln was a constant reader. By reading Lincoln improved upon his lack of schooling. In 1830 when Lincoln was 21 years old, the family moved to Illinois settling near Decatur. The following year at the age of 22, Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois.

LINCOLN'S BIRTHPLACE

... 'I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged, that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise."

—From a speech, January 11, 1837

* * *

… A story is told of Lincoln while a young lawyer. He was engaged in a case in which the opposing lawyer made an elaborate and misleading speech to the jury. In his opening remarks Lincoln said: "My friend who has just spoken to you would be all right if it weren't for one thing, and I don't know that you ought to blame him for that, for he can't help it. What I refer to is his reckless disregard for the truth. You have seen instances of this in his speech to you. Now the reason lies in the constitution of his mind. The moment he begins to talk all his mental operations cease, and he is not responsible. He is, in fact, much like a little steamboat that I saw on the Sangamon River when I was engaged in boating there. This little steamer had a five-foot boiler and a seven-foot whistle, and every time it whistled the engine stopped."

…"In very truth he was, the noblest work of God—an honest man."

—From a eulogy by Lincoln, February 8, 1842

* * *

… Lincoln once advised his law partner, William Herndon: "The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.

"Allow me to assure you that suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation. There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury. Cast about, and see if this feeling has not injured every person you have ever known to fall into it."

—From a letter to William H. Herndon, July 10, 1848

NEW SALEM

… "In law it is good policy to never plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you cannot."

—From a letter to U. F. Under, February 20, 1848

* * *

… Upon his defeat for the Senate by Douglas,...

Table of contents

• Title
• About Abraham Lincoln
• A Digest of the Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln