The Vital Frontier

"Great distance, in either time or space, has a wonderful power to lull and render quiescent the human mind." - Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln made this point in the midst of a speech about temperance - the movement against the "evils" of alcohol. But his point exactly was that the old method in those days of blasting drunkards with the premise that their behavior was immoral, and rode the straight track to eternal damnation, was ineffective for a couple of reasons. First, the general resistance of human nature against any motivation hurled downward from a platform of superiority. And second, the dullness (no matter how terrifying that eventual specter might be) that any vision impresses upon a person when it will not come to pass for many years.

Blessedly it works in the other direction too. The ghosts, nightmares and scars of the past wash away with the weakness of a footprint near the tide. Sometimes, or with practice, even of the recent past.

I Get It

"The prime quality of his mind was not speed - which in the different world a century and more later would be thought to be almost the defining feature of intelligence. It also was not breadth... Lincoln's mind instead cut deeply, perhaps slowly or at least with effort and concentrated attention, into a relatively few subjects." - William Miller

Baggage-Free Living

"You have more of a feeling of personal resentment than I have. Perhaps I have too little of it; but I never thought it paid. A man doesn't have the time to spend half his life in quarrels. If any man ceases to attack me, I never remember the past against him." - Abraham Lincoln

If the guy can forgive half a nation plotting his death, how can I do less against those who challenge me in brash or even completely unwitting ways?

With Malice Toward None

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." - Abraham Lincoln

Let Biting Dogs Live

"Yield larger things to which you can show no more than equal right; and yield lesser ones, though clearly your own. Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite." - Abraham Lincoln

Said another way, choose which hill you're willing to die on. What is the addiction to being right over every little thing? Even if we were perfect, does anyone truly care for a perfect person? People come to like those who are similar, and we're all similar in our vulnerability.

Today I was in a meeting on a topic in which I had all the answers. And other people had many of the answers too. So as much as I could, I sat quietly, until someone asked my opinion. When someone said something wrong, I sat quietly, and someone else corrected things. Successful is the person who chooses the role of helper over the role of master.

The Union

"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that." - Abraham Lincoln

Budget talks are ongoing at work, which contends goals with resources as usual. The stress of deciding appropriate staffing can bring out the worst in selfishness, unless we're strong enough to take our eyes off of our own chairs and seize the goal of the best price/quality balance for our customers.

He Knows A Thing Or Two About Influence

"When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted." - Abraham Lincoln

Ridicule Us

"I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule. I am used to it." - Abraham Lincoln

If ridicule is a problem, then I'm holding onto my ego too tightly, pretending for reasons bordering on insane that it matters, as long as I do the best I can.

Life Sentence

"It is said that an Eastern monarch once charges his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. they presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!" - Abraham Lincoln

Embarrassed Abe

"I have found that when one is embarrassed, usually the shortest way to get through with it is to quit talking or thinking about it, and go at something else." - Abraham Lincoln

Almost any other comment, other than to say "I'm embarrassed," is prone to compound the situation. Efforts to prolong, distract, or deny the fact that we're merely human is a waste of time. Might as well get back to being useful!

The Compliment Is Mutual

"I have stepped out upon this platform that I may see you and you may see me, and in the arrangement I have the best of the bargain." - Abraham Lincoln

Right Makes Might

"Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it." - Abraham Lincoln

Duty is tough. It carries a sense of obligation, something that isn't easy but that we are compelled to do, either from within or without.

Last week at work we discovered a mistake that might sound off alarms at the highest levels of the company. What will that bring? It doesn't matter. To behave ethically is our duty. What's meant to happen will happen, leading us down yet another one of untold million interesting possible life paths. To steel through and live, that's the might.