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Those who knew Lincoln described him as an extraordinarily funny man. Humor was an essential aspect of his temperament. He laughed, he explained, so he did not weep.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Humor served as a coping mechanism for Lincoln, allowing him to stay resilient in difficult times.

This quote reflects the importance of humor in Abraham Lincoln's life, highlighting how it was not just an aspect of his personality but a necessary tool for emotional resilience. Doris Kearns Goodwin emphasizes that Lincoln's ability to laugh helped him maintain his composure and avoid despair, revealing a deeper truth about the role of humor in overcoming adversity.

Themes

HumorLincolnResilienceLaughterCoping

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech about the importance of resilience, one might quote Lincoln to highlight how laughter can help overcome challenges.

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Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.
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Once a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history.
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That is what leadership is all about: staking your ground ahead of where opinion is and convincing people, not simply following the popular opinion of the moment.
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I am a historian. With the exception of being a wife and mother, it is who I am. And there is nothing I take more seriously.
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Obama does seem to have what both FDR and Lincoln had, which is the recognition that you have to hold back at times and then wait to come forward.
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