Lincoln on lawyering, Part 4

Letter to John M. Brockman on September 25, 1860

J. M. Brockman, Esq.

Dear Sir:

Yours of the 24th. asking "the best mode of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the law" is received. The mode is very simple, though laborious, and tedious. It is only to get the books, and read, and study them carefully.

Begin with Blackstone's Commentaries, and after reading it carefully through, say twice, take up Chitty's Pleadings, Greenleaf's Evidence, & Story's Equity &c. in succession.

Work, work, work, is the main thing.

Yours very truly

A. Lincoln



Getting bored? In case anyone is watching, Lincoln just may be giving us the secret of his – or anybody’s – success: work hard, hard, H-A-R-D.