I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reading opens the door to previous knowledge and helps tackle new challenges.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the importance of reading as a means to access the collective knowledge of humanity. It suggests that through reading, one can learn from past discoveries and gain the skill and enthusiasm necessary to address current and future challenges, highlighting reading as both a key to understanding solved problems and a catalyst for innovation in tackling unsolved ones.
Themes
ReadingKnowledgeDiscoveryLearningEducationProblem Solving
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education, one might say, 'As Abraham Lincoln said, reading allows us to access the discoveries of others, making us better problem solvers.'
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes →Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham LincolnRead
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham LincolnRead
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
Abraham LincolnRead
For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
Abraham LincolnRead
And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
Abraham LincolnRead
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