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 have great respect for the semicolon; it is a mighty handy little fellow.
Interpretation
The semicolon is a powerful punctuation mark that demonstrates the importance of clarity and connection in writing.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln highlights the significance of the semicolon as a punctuation mark that serves to connect closely related ideas while maintaining a grammatical pause. It symbolizes the notion that some concepts are best expressed together, yet they retain their individuality, showcasing the complexity and richness of language.
In practice
During a writing workshop, I used a quote by Lincoln to emphasize the importance of punctuation.
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.
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.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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.
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.
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.
If you want to resolve a dispute or come out from conflict, the very first thing is to speak the truth. If you have a headache and tell the doctor you have a stomachache, how can the doctor help? You must speak the truth. The truth will abolish fear.
No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.
Never lie; never cheat; never steal. Don't whine; don't complain; don't make excuses.
There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.
Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.
I don't care about age very much. I think back to the old people I knew when I was growing up, and they always seemed larger than life.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.