Saturday, February 12, 2005

The Colussus and His Vision

Today is the birthday of "the greatest practitioner of democratic statesmanship that America and the world have yet produced" (Dinesh D'Souza)
Lincoln was the true "philosophical statesman," one who was truly good and truly wise. Standing in front of his critics, Lincoln is a colossus, and all of the Lilliputian arrows hurled at him bounce harmlessly to the ground. It is hard to put any other president — not even George Washington — in the same category as Abraham Lincoln. He is simply the greatest practitioner of democratic statesmanship that America and the world have yet produced.
(Thanks to the Ashbrook Center's Lucas Morel for the article
that takes on criticism from both the left and the right
)
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts.

If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.

Click here to read some specific examples of how Abe's words and thoughts are alive and well today (modern-day autocrats speaking out on democracy being against their people's respective cultures, the potential break-up of Canada, etc…)

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