Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 235



'Recognizing me, even before I reached him, the president exclaimed, so that all around could hear him, “Here comes my friend Douglass.” Taking me by the hand, he said, “I am glad to see you. I saw you in the crowd today, listening to my inaugural address; how did you like it?” I said, “Mr. Lincoln, I must not detain you with my poor opinion when there are thousands waiting to shake hands with you.” “No, no,” he said, “you must stop a little, Douglass; there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours. I want to know what you thought of it.” I replied, “Mr. Lincoln, that was a sacred effort.”’
- Frederick Douglass, Ex-slave, White House reception after Second Inaugural Address

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