“When you choose to forgive those who hurt you, you take away their power.” - Anonymous

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

25 February

We're forgiven only insofar as we forgive. There’s something delicious about the equation implicit in all that. Since I have no idea when I'm going to die, I should jettison all the garbage of recrimination on a regular basis as and when it builds up; I should make forgiveness a habit like I mean business; I should leave the dead to bury their dead, and move on to what gives life/Life. Besides, traveling light seems like a smart idea.

“Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” – Jesus Christ

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

24 February

Make sure your beliefs are based on arriving at a decision, not waiting for a vote.

“Next to power without honor, the most dangerous thing in the world is power without humor.” – Eric Sevareid

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst

February 25

In 1832 Lincoln served as a captain in the Black Hawk War, an Indian skirmish which lasted but a few weeks and in which he did not once hear a shot fired in anger. In short, there seemed to be virtually nothing in this experience that might contribute to a burgeoning political career. He had a way of dealing with those who, like himself, had virtually no combat experience to bolster their careers: he showed how they and he were pretty much on the same footing. In short, their pretense brought out his withering humor. 'By the way, do you know I am a military hero? Yes, sir, in the days of the Black Hawk War, I fought, bled, and came away. Speaking of General Cass's career reminds me of my own. I was not at Stallman's defeat, but I was about as near to it as Cass to Hull's surrender; and like him I saw the place very soon afterwards. It is quite certain I did not break my sword, for I had none to break, but I bent my musket pretty badly on one occasion... If General Cass went in advance of me picking whortleberries, I guess I surpassed him in charging upon the wild onion.  If he saw any live, fighting Indians, it was more than I did, but I had a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes, and although I never fainted from loss of blood, I can truly say that I was often very hungry.'

'Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.'

- Mark Twain

“No pressure, no diamonds.” – Anonymous

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst

February 24

According to Lincoln’s senior partner at the time, right after he passed the bar exam, Lincoln’s ‘knowledge of the law was very small … but he would get a case and try to know all there was connected to it; and in that way he got to be quite a formidable lawyer.’

‘As the caterpillar becomes the butterfly, so also the meaningless becomes meaningful to those who strive with persistence and trust with simplicity.’

- Arnold Kunst

“Ambiguity: first you’re bewildered by it, then you tolerate it, then you relish its inherent challenge[s].” – Arnold Kunst

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

23 February

No dream is worth striving for unless it is big enough for the God of the universe to romp about in. [I think that means it can’t be a no-challenges plastic dream.]

“Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill

From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst

February 23

In the six months following the start of the spring campaign of 1864, a titanic struggle ensued between Ulysses S. Grant commanding the Army of the Potomac and Robert E. Lee commanding the Army of Northern Virginia. During that time Grant suffered over 50,000 casualties – more than the size of Lee’s entire army. Such astronomical casualty figures virtually guaranteed that Lincoln would pay the ultimate price during that presidential election year. On August 23, 1864 Lincoln wrote the following: 'This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the president-elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he can not possibly save it afterwards.'

'I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure — which is: Try to please everybody.'

- Herbert Bayard Swope