I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
Extemporaneous speaking should be practised [sic] and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech. And yet there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than relying too much on speech-making. If any one, upon his rare powers of speaking, shall claim an exemption from the drudgery of the law, his case is a failure in advance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of extemporaneous speaking for lawyers while cautioning against over-reliance on it at the expense of legal skills.
Abraham Lincoln highlights that while extemporaneous speaking is a vital skill for lawyers to connect with the public and attract clients, it is equally crucial that they do not let their ability to speak overshadow the fundamental work required in the legal profession. Relying solely on oratory skills can lead to failure, as it neglects the essential drudgery of mastering the law itself.
Themes
Extemporaneous SpeakingLawyersCommunicationPublic SpeakingSkillFailureDrudgery
In practice
Example use cases
During a public speaking seminar for young lawyers, this quote served as a reminder of the balance needed between speaking skills and legal knowledge.
More from Abraham Lincoln
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
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For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
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And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
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