“Pooh liked short words, like ‘what about some more, Pooh?’” – A. A. Milne

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst

July 13

Lincoln had turned his wizardry with words into a potent political weapon. In 1858 when Stephen Douglas, the powerful leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate, ran for re-election against Lincoln – victoriously, as it turned out – he knew he was up against a formidable opponent. ‘Every one of his stories seems like a whack upon my back,’ said Douglas. ‘… Nothing else – not any of his arguments or any of his replies to my questions –disturbs me. But when he begins to tell a story, I feel that I am to be overmatched.’

‘Words are the only things that last forever.’

- Winston Churchill