Learning From Abraham Lincoln's Struggles

[Gene C]

Feeling a bit down and depressed?
Lincoln's story offers inspiration

How did he do it?
1. Fellowship helped
2. He used laughter to drive away the "blues"
3. He found solace in helping others
4. Work brought relief
5. Lincoln drew on his faith

From Fox News "Facing a post - COVID Mental Health Challenge? by John Cribb
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/covid-me...john-cribb

Unfortunately the author draws too heavily on Herndon's analysis of Lincoln's melancholy "Twice in life, when he was a young man, he seems to have spiraled out of control in depression" Other than that, it's a fairly decent article.

[LincolnMan]

Very good post Gene. I would like to take the liberty to add to the list. I believe he told the story of a wise man who voiced the wisdom: “This too shall pass.” I think Lincoln himself subscribed to that.

[RJNorton]

(05-28-2021 07:24 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Very good post Gene. I would like to take the liberty to add to the list. I believe he told the story of a wise man who voiced the wisdom: “This too shall pass.” I think Lincoln himself subscribed to that.

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged 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!"

SOURCE: The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume III, "Address Before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin" (September 30, 1859), pp. 481-482.

[LincolnMan]

Yes! Thank you Roger- that’s it.

[Eva Elisabeth]

One of my favorites. Here is some more interesting background on the origin:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass

[David Lockmiller]

(05-29-2021 06:47 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  One of my favorites. Here is some more interesting background on the origin:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass

From the same speech, Abraham Lincoln, democracy's political philosopher, states:

"To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization."

[LincolnMan]

If only more of our leaders lived by that sentiment.

[LincolnMan]

Maybe another: He used even his down and depressed times as teachable moments. Easy to say- harder to do. Lincoln seemed to have understood it.

[Dave B]

Gene, excellent thread.

[LincolnMan]

It was good to read this thread again.

[David Lockmiller]

(05-30-2021 09:37 AM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  

(05-29-2021 06:47 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  One of my favorites. Here is some more interesting background on the origin:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_too_shall_pass

From the same speech, Abraham Lincoln, democracy's political philosopher, states:

"To correct the evils, great and small, which spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity among strangers, as nations or as individuals, is one of the highest functions of civilization."

This concept is now being played out in Ukraine. How will it end?