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 long visit to a friend is often a great bore. Never make people twice glad.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Prolonged interactions can sometimes become tedious, and it's important to avoid overstaying one's welcome.
This quote by Abraham Lincoln highlights the delicate balance in maintaining friendships. While spending time with friends is valuable, an extended visit can lead to discomfort or boredom, suggesting that it is better to leave them wanting more, rather than risking the possibility of overstaying one's welcome and diminishing the joy of the interaction.
Themes
FriendshipVisitingBoundariesComfortInteraction
In practice
Example use cases
During a toast at a friend's gathering, one might reference this quote humorously to emphasize the importance of not overstaying a visit.
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.
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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My Friend: Art thou abroad on this stormy night on thy journey of love, my friend? The sky groans like one in despair. I have no sleep tonight. Ever and again I open my door and look out on the darkness, my friend! I can see nothing before me. I wonder where lies thy path! By what dim shore of the ink-black river, by what far edge of the frowning forest, through what mazy depth of gloom art thou threading thy course to come to me, my friend?
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Of what shall we be proud of if we are not proud of our friends?
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He liked the works of his friends, which is beautiful as loyalty but can be disastrous as judgement.
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I could take away all the gold medals and everything, that was the biggest thing that sport has given me. Belonging into a community, but also being proud of who I was.
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