This Lincoln quote is on the Forbes.com website today:
"With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die."

--Jim

Jim, thanks for posting this quote! I checked the Fehrenbachers' book, and it was Judge Hamilton Ward who recalled Edwin Stanton told him Lincoln said this on September 22, 1862 (the day Lincoln announced the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation).

I like this quote, too. (Reminds me also a bit of Charlie Chaplin's famous words.)The entire story is here (one can well imagine Stanton "suffering"):
http://www.mrlincolnandfriends.org/insid...ubjectID=1
"Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton said that before he announced the draft Emancipation Proclamation, Mr. Lincoln 'was reading a book of some kind, which seemed to amuse him. It was a little book. He finally turned to us and said: 'Gentlemen, did you ever read anything from Artemus Ward? Let me read you a chapter that is very funny.' Not a member of the Cabinet smiled; as for myself, I was angry, and looked to see what the President meant. It seemed to me like buffoonery. He, however, concluded to read us a chapter from Artemus Ward, which he did with great deliberation, and, having finished, laughed heartily, without a member of the Cabinet joining in the laughter. 'Well,' he said, 'let's have another chapter,' and he read another chapter, to our great astonishment. I was considering whether I should rise and leave the meeting abruptly, when he threw his book down, heaved a sigh, and said: 'Gentlemen, why don't you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die, and you need this medicine as much as I do.'"

(07-29-2015 04:53 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  "Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton said . . .

Thanks, Roger and Eva for verifying the quote and giving the context of it.

I can visualize Stanton's slow burn as Lincoln read those chapters! I also recall Herndon's frustration with Lincoln reading aloud in their office.

Today's business-world equivalent, I guess, is having to listen to boneheads reading their PowerPoint slides to a captive, and usually seething, audience.

--Jim

If there is anything that makes me go stark raving bonkers, it's having to listen to people read out loud...while I am trying to read or concentrate on something myself!!

I have also read that Lincoln wrote “out loud” — he would whisper a word out loud as he wrote it.

Toia, I'm with you when it comes to listening to others read out loud. It drives me bonkers. It's like listening to someone talking on a cellphone and there's no way to escape!

And Jim's mention of the presenter at meetings who is depending solely on PowerPoint. The points that he wants to get across are up there on the screen, and he proceeds to read them back to the audience as if they are unable to read them themselves. Don't bother to hold a meeting if this is all you are going to do. Just send an electronic version and save time and travel. To me, PowerPoint serves to enhance one's talk with graphics and examples - not be the entire talk.

(08-01-2015 02:52 AM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  If there is anything that makes me go stark raving bonkers, it's having to listen to people read out loud...while I am trying to read or concentrate on something myself!!

If I understood it correctly, the "forced" audience was not supposed to read or do anything else than listening...
I personally cannot imagine the "silence" respectively "sound" monotony of those days without radio, TV, and access to music at every time (positively meant). I wonder how many people in those days have never had the chance to hear the sound of an orchestra.

(08-01-2015 04:32 PM)Anita Wrote:  I have also read that Lincoln wrote “out loud” — he would whisper a word out loud as he wrote it.

Toia, I'm with you when it comes to listening to others read out loud. It drives me bonkers. It's like listening to someone talking on a cellphone and there's no way to escape!

Another pet peeve! One of my favorite haunts is the fabulous Art Deco Los Angeles Central Library. It's an enormous old building with very rare, historical old books. I like to go there to sink into the chairs and breathe the rarified air of old musty books on the shelves...and lately listen to people yakking it up on their cell phones as if they were in an Internet café. I think the attendants at L.A. Central are too intimidated or indifferent to stop them.

Soooo annoying!!!

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(08-01-2015 08:57 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 02:52 AM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  If there is anything that makes me go stark raving bonkers, it's having to listen to people read out loud...while I am trying to read or concentrate on something myself!!

If I understood it correctly, the "forced" audience was not supposed to read or do anything else than listening...
I personally cannot imagine the "silence" respectively "sound" monotony of those days without radio, TV, and access to music at every time (positively meant). I wonder how many people in those days have never had the chance to hear the sound of an orchestra.

Hi Eva,

That's a very sad thing to imagine, isn't it?