“Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame.” - Thomas á Kempis

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst

February 3

At one Cabinet meeting Lincoln had all his counselors but one against him. He told them he was “reminded of a revival meeting in Illinois when a fellow with a few drinks too many in him had walked up the aisle to a front pew. All eyes were on him, but he didn't care; he joined in the singing, droned amen at the close of prayers, and as the meeting proceeded dozed off to sleep. Before the meeting ended the pastor asked the usual question: ‘Who are on the Lord's side?’ and the congregation arose en masse. When the pastor asked, ‘Who are on the side of the Devil’ the dozing sleeper came to, heard part of the question, saw the parson standing, and rose to his feet to say ‘I don't exactly understand the question but I'll stand by you, parson, to the last. But it seems to me that we're in a hopeless minority.’”