What is your best one-word description of President Abraham Lincoln's character?

[Juan Marrero]

Right after his reelection, Emily Dickinson, having witnessed a celebration of the victory, wrote a letter to her sister containing the line: "The Drums keep on for the still Man..."[Letter 297]. As one would expect from ED, the adjective "still" is very insightful. Lincoln seems never to have acted rashly on an important matter. And he knew the importance of inaction to reach a greater goal.

When Lincoln said, "I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky'" he tacitly recognized the need to be "still" lest the border States join the rebellion. He never pounced, he waited.

In him "still" means rational calculation.