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
in times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity.
Interpretation
We should speak carefully and take responsibility for our words, recognizing their lasting impact.
Abraham Lincoln's quote emphasizes the importance of accountability in our speech, particularly during challenging times. It suggests that individuals should be mindful of the words they choose to utter, ensuring that they are willing to stand by those words forever, as they can have significant consequences that extend beyond the immediate moment.
In practice
During a public speaking event focusing on ethical communication.
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.
I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end.
Never underestimate the joy people derive from hearing something they already know.
The beauty of getting older is the surprise of what else you can do to make the world a better place with the wisdom that you've accrued over those years.
I used to read five psalms every day - that teaches me how to get along with God. Then I read a chapter of Proverbs every day and that teaches me how to get along with my fellow man.
And knowing what happens on average is a good place to start. By so doing, we insulate ourselves from the tendency to build our thinking - our daily decisions, our laws, our governance - on exceptions and anomalies rather than on reality
People live through such pain only once. Pain comes againβbut it finds a tougher surface.
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