Abraham Lincoln once said,
“I have always thought that all men should be free; but if any should be slaves it should be first those who desire it for themselves, and secondly those who desire it for others. Whenever (I) hear any one, arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”

If You Love Slavery, Then Be a Slave

This was one of Abraham Lincoln’s best arguments to individuals that supported slavery and made arguments about how great it was.  Lincoln held the belief that if you think it’s so great, then why don’t you go be a slave?

I recently finished Abraham Lincoln: Quotes, Quips, and Speeches edited by Gordon Leidner.  This little book does not go into detail on Abraham Lincoln’s life like other biographies, but it does a great job as a primer into the life of our 16th President.  It contains quotes on his love of reading since a small child and arguably one of the greatest autodidacts to ever live.  Through sheer will, Lincoln was able self-educate himself in any subject he needed.  He had this passion from the start as his childhood friend Nat Grigsby recalls:

“Whilst other boys were idling away their time.  Lincoln was at home studying hard.”  

 Always Count On Yourself

Lincoln was never a man to second guess himself and although he took counsel and advice from trusted people, the final decision was always his.  He was able to trust in himself because he had lived a life of honor and always did what was right regardless of what others thought.  Lincoln would prefer to do the right thing and lose rather than succumb to political pressure.  The truth always prevailed. 

 “If it is decreed that I should go down because of this speech, then let me go down linked to the truth, let me die in the advocacy of what is just and right.”  Abraham

Abraham Lincoln

 Be Patient and Strategic

The civil war could have been much simpler for Abraham Lincoln if he had just been content with ending the secession of the South and bringing the country together as a whole again, but deep down inside he knew that the ultimate goal was to abolish slavery.  His patience also persevered because he knew he would never gain the support he needed to end slavery unless he created the union to end the secession first.  With the union gaining his trust and bringing the people together he was able to also abolish slavery. 

 This short little book was a great refresher on the amazing feats Abraham Lincoln accomplished during turbulent times.  I would strongly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Lincoln and decide to jump into the longer biographies about him. 

 “Although volume upon volume is written to prove slavery a good thing, we never hear of the man who wishes to take the good of it, by being a slave himself.”  

Abraham Lincoln

Lessons Learned

• Read more books!
• Always be learning.
• Truth and honestly above all.
• You must be patient and strategic when leading and needing people.

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