"If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart . . . and is the great high road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause really be …
"If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart . . . and is the great high road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause really be a just one. On the contrary, assume to dictate to his judgment, or to command his action, or to mark him as one to be shunned and despised, and he will retreat within himself, close all the avenues to his head and his heart; and though your cause be naked truth itself, transformed to the heaviest lance, harder than steel, and sharper than steel can be made, and tho’ you throw it with more than Herculean force and precision, you shall be no more be able to pierce him, than to penetrate the hard shell of a tortoise with a rye straw."
Lincoln knew that healthy democracies require cooperation, inclusion, and respect - even when citizens disagree vehemently about fundamental rights. Saving our country from Trumpism won't be easy - but as citizens we will have to embrace this kind of thinking if we are going to survive this movement.
When President Obama began his speech last night, I turned to my wife and said: "At some point in this speech he will quote Lincoln." And, of course, he did. The above is one of the best Lincoln quotes that I have read, and, as is usually the case, it is not possible to refute its logic. I appreciate "Amanda" for bringing out this quote. If only I had read it years ago, instead of this morning. I would have had more time to practice its teaching.
"If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart . . . and is the great high road to his reason, and which, when once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing his judgment of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause really be a just one. On the contrary, assume to dictate to his judgment, or to command his action, or to mark him as one to be shunned and despised, and he will retreat within himself, close all the avenues to his head and his heart; and though your cause be naked truth itself, transformed to the heaviest lance, harder than steel, and sharper than steel can be made, and tho’ you throw it with more than Herculean force and precision, you shall be no more be able to pierce him, than to penetrate the hard shell of a tortoise with a rye straw."
-Abraham Lincoln's Temperance Address (1842) https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/temperance-address-2/
Lincoln knew that healthy democracies require cooperation, inclusion, and respect - even when citizens disagree vehemently about fundamental rights. Saving our country from Trumpism won't be easy - but as citizens we will have to embrace this kind of thinking if we are going to survive this movement.
Seems the party of Lincoln has not read Lincoln.
They haven’t since Lee Atwater.
That's a fabulous quotation!
When President Obama began his speech last night, I turned to my wife and said: "At some point in this speech he will quote Lincoln." And, of course, he did. The above is one of the best Lincoln quotes that I have read, and, as is usually the case, it is not possible to refute its logic. I appreciate "Amanda" for bringing out this quote. If only I had read it years ago, instead of this morning. I would have had more time to practice its teaching.