“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst:

June 11

'No other human occupation opens so wide a field for the profitable and agreeable combination of labor with cultivated thought, as agriculture. I know of nothing so pleasant to the mind, as the discovery of anything which is at once new and valuable -- nothing which so lightens and sweetens toil, as the hopeful pursuit of such discovery. And how vast, and how varied a field is agriculture, for such discovery. The mind, already trained to thought, in the country school, or higher school, cannot fail to find there an exhaustless source of profitable enjoyment.'

- Abraham Lincoln

'The winner always manages to find something to enthuse about.'

- Arnold Kunst

"There are some fleas a dog just can't reach." - Abraham Lincoln

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual” by Arnold Kunst

If you find that you fail to impact this or that person you intended to impact, rest assured; you’re not alone! My guess is, not everyone who came in contact with Jesus Christ became a Christian either. I can just imagine two guys coming down from the Sermon on the Mount, and the first guy says, "Wasn't he fantastic! Imagine: it’s the poor in spirit, not the rich, who are blessed!" The other guy says, "I don't know; it was a little chilly; I should have brought a jacket." One perceives only what one is open to. Maybe the problem with the guy who "didn't get much out of that” was that he didn't bring anything to put it into!

I’d seem to achieve more if only you’d expect less.

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst:

June 10

At the battle of Antietam the Union general, George McClellan, with 80,000 troops confronted the South’s 45,000 [estimated to be a mighty host in excess of 100,000]. Although McClellan stumbled into possession of the South’s master battle plan, for some reason he kept approximately 20,000 Union soldiers in reserve - they never fired a shot. The battle, Lee’s first invasion of the North, was a Union victory in that Lee was driven back to his native Virginia; it was less than the stupendous victory it would have been if a moderately competent general had pursued his advantage and destroyed the Army of Northern Virginia, far and away the more fearsome military force the South possessed. As Lincoln more than once was forced to concede, ‘we must work with the tools we are given.’

‘Wisdom comes with winters.’

- Oscar Wilde

"“Be rthe experienced quarterback in the pocket as the play yields yet another 26 yards.” – Arnold Kunst

From "The Human Condition: A User's Manual" by Arnold Kunst

If Heaven were some plastic, pretend thing, it wouldn’t take any more trouble to achieve it than, say, picking up the morning paper. But if it’s anything like it’s supposed to be, I think we’d better prepare to do battle. It’s a prize eminently worth having, but only when we’ve successfully stormed the battlements. In fact, maybe it’s part of the plan that we’ve got to take hell to earn Heaven.

Don’t try to be the best – you’re better than that!

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst:
June 9
'The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him. Allow me to assure you that suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation. There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury. ' 
- Abraham Lincoln

’Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.’
- George Washington

Be yourself, but be your best self.

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual” by Arnold Kunst
Smile at everyone you meet – whoever they are they could do with another smile today.

“Knowledge speaks, but Wisdom listens.” – Jimi Hendrix

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst:

June 8

In January 1864 James Russell Lowell sketched Lincoln as 'so gently guiding public sentiment that he seems to follow it, by so yielding doubtful points that he can be firm without seeming obstinate in essential ones.'

‘Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.’

- John Quincy Adams