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
I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the humility of acknowledging that external circumstances can influence one's life.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln reveals a deep understanding of the human experience and the often unpredictable nature of life. He acknowledges that despite our efforts to control outcomes, we are frequently at the mercy of larger events and circumstances that shape our paths. This recognition of vulnerability not only reflects Lincoln's character but also serves as a reminder of the limits of human agency in the face of life's complexities.
Themes
ControlEventsHumilityAcknowledgmentInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about overcoming adversity, you might say, 'As Abraham Lincoln once noted, events have a way of controlling us, reminding us to adapt and persevere.'
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, 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
Similar quotes
The real fight is about what should be in the marketplace and what should not. Should education be a marketable commodity? Should healthcare?
Susan GeorgeRead
Many introverts feel there's something wrong with them, and try to pass as extroverts. But whenever you try to pass as something you're not, you lose a part of yourself along the way. You especially lose a sense of how to spend your time.
Susan CainRead
All systems of morality are based on the idea that an action has consequences that legitimize or cancel it. A mind imbued with the absurd merely judges that those consequences must be considered calmly.
Albert CamusRead
Man who man would be, must rule the empire of himself.
Percy Bysshe ShelleyRead
Probably I dont believe in a lot of things that I used to believe in but that doesnt mean I dont believe in anything.
Cormac MccarthyRead
There cannot be perfect civilization until Man realizes that the rights of every living creature are as sacred as his own.
David Starr JordanRead