#Lincoln February 13

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This February 2025, several of us are participating in the 30-Day Philosophy Coach4aday Challenge. Each day, we choose a quote or concept from a philosopher, past or present, and share it with others. Participating in this activity is actually sharing wisdom with others. My philosopher choice today is ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in Larue County Kentucky. Lincoln was considered by many to be a very astute political philosopher. In fact, Norton Garfinkle observed: “Abraham Lincoln was not only a moral leader; he was also a political philosopher and an economic realist. Lincoln’s genius lay in his ability to see the relationship between the workaday, economic realities of American life and the nation’s highest moral and political principles.”

Lincoln’s philosophy centered on self-government, balancing moral principles with political pragmatism. Historians note that he often struggled to reconcile what was right with what was achievable.

Philosophy 30-Day Challenge Guidelines

Like previous challenges there are no hard and fast rules to participate. There are a few suggested guidelines

1. Identify your choice of philosopher, and, if necessary, offer up a brief bio on that individual.
2. If you need help here is a link to some famous philosophers
3. Provide the quote or concept that is attributed to this philosopher.
4. If sharing with others use the #Coach4adayChallenge

February 12th Philosopher–Abraham Lincoln

Yesterday was the 224th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. As a grade school student in the 1960’s February 12th along with February 22nd (George Washington’s Birthday) were school holidays. That all changed with the 1971 enactment of President’s Day.

Many people associate Lincoln as an orator because of the Gettysburg Address. Yet spending time once again on Goodreads I came across a multitude of fantastic philosophic quotes.

I selected quotes from Abraham Lincoln for the sole reason I had not read them before.

“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me, and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.”

“Achievement has no color“

“When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.”

“If we magnified our successes as much as we magnify our disappointments, we’d all be much happier”