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When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.
Abraham Lincoln
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Effective communication involves understanding both yourself and the other person's perspective.

This quote by Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the importance of empathy in conversations. It highlights that successful reasoning or argumentation requires not only preparation on one's own views but significantly more consideration of the other individual's thoughts and responses, suggesting that true understanding and productive dialogue stem from prioritizing the perspective of others.

Themes

CommunicationEmpathyUnderstandingDialogueReasoning

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote during a workshop on effective communication.

More from Abraham Lincoln

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.
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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.
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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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