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
Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True kindness endures through life’s challenges and is remembered longer than superficial manners.
This quote by Abraham Lincoln highlights the enduring nature of genuine kindness amid the transient qualities of mere politeness or courtesy. It emphasizes that acts of kindness hold significant value in our lives and will always be cherished, even as other social graces fade over time.
Themes
KindnessServiceEndurancePolitenessCourtesy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of kindness in leadership.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes →Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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