Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 140

During the run-up to the presidential election of 1864 the Republican Party appeared in complete disarray and the opposition rejoiced. One who was clearly disturbed about what appeared to be the impending defeat of the Republican ticket came to Lincoln about it. The president seemed oddly unfazed by the whole thing. 'It is not worth fretting about; it reminds me of an old acquaintance who having a son of a scientific turn bought him a microscope. The boy went around experimenting with his glass on everything that came his way. One day at the dinner table his father took up a piece of cheese. “Don't eat that, father” said the boy; “it is full of wrigglers.” “My son,” replied the old gentleman, taking at the same time a huge bite, “let 'em wriggle; I can stand it if they can.''’

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 139

'Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 13

'A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 137

'First convince a man that you are his sincere friend. Therein is the drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what you will, is the great high road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 13

As a lawyer, Lincoln often discouraged people from bringing unnecessary lawsuits. Once, a man wanted him to bring a suit for $2.50 against a penniless man, and Lincoln could not talk him out of it. Lincoln charged him a retainer of $10.00, won the case, kept $5.00 for himself and gave the other $5.00 to the penniless defendant who promptly paid the $2.50 he owed and kept the rest for himself. Thus everyone involved won including the angry client who, though he paid dearly for it, felt his revenge vindicated.

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 135

One day Lincoln was visiting the sick and wounded. He entered a tent in which lay Confederate wounded. A correspondent quoted him as saying they were 'enemies through uncontrollable circumstances.' After a silence, Confederates came forward and without words shook the hand of the President. Some were too sore and broken to walk or to sit up. The President went among these, took some by the hand, wished them good cheer, and said they should have the best of care. The correspondent wrote, 'Beholders wept at the interview. Most of the Confederates, even, were moved to tears.'

Lincoln’s Wit/Wisdom 134

Following Lincoln’s loss in the senate race against Stephen Douglas in 1858 he said, 'I am glad I made the late race. It gave me a hearing on the great and durable questions of the age, which I could have had in no other way; and though I now sink out of view, and shall be forgotten, I believe I have made some marks which will tell for the cause of civil liberty long after I am gone.'