Lincoln Quotes Worth Requoting

Although more than 150 years have passed since his assassination, Abraham Lincoln continues to be very much in the news. The articles and books that examine his character, actions, leadership and legacy are abundant. Lincoln on Leadership, Leadership Lessons of Abraham Lincoln, Learning from Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success, and Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln are just a few of the recent volumes that have vied for our leadership attention as well as our leadership dollars.

From an academic perspective, I was first introduced to the wisdom and leadership of our 16th president as an undergrad pursuing a history degree. That’s been more than 40 years ago and now as a leader with a great deal of time in the trenches, I have an even greater appreciation for Lincoln’s wisdom, perception and the character qualities that marked his leadership during exceedingly tumultuous times.

Today marks 210 years since the sixteenth U.S. president was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. To honor his life and legacy what follows are some of the most enduring Lincoln quotes that distill his wisdom in a nutshell. Here are some of the gems attributed to him:

“A man's character is like a tree and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

 “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” 

“It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.”

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

 “I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.”

“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.”

“I am not concerned that you have fallen – I am concerned that you arise.”

“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.”

“Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.”

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.”

“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem.”

“The best way to predict your future is to create it”

“Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it.”

“Live a good life. In the end it is not the years in a life, but the life in the years.”

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

“I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.” 

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” 

“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” 

"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle."

“With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.”

"Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived."

"The people when rightly and fully trusted will return the trust."

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

Do you have a favorite Lincoln quote? If so, let us know.

Stay the Course,

Dr. Greg Morris

____________________________________

Gregory K. Morris, Ph.D. serves as the president and founder of Leadership Dynamics?, a non-profit corporation committed to the training and development of leaders and their organizations. He has authored In Pursuit of Leadership: Principles and Practices from the Life of Moses. For more information, visit LeadershipDynamics.org,  Facebook.com/LeadershipDynamics or contact [email protected] You can also follow Greg and Leadership Dynamics? on Twitter at @LdshpDynamics