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.
The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-improvement is crucial for success, and one should focus on personal growth without worrying about others' intentions.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the importance of self-improvement for young individuals aspiring to elevate their status and achieve success. He suggests that rather than being hindered by the perception of obstacles or negative influences from others, one should concentrate on enhancing their abilities and character in all aspects of life. This proactive approach to personal development enables individuals to rise and thrive despite potential adversities.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to young professionals looking to advance their careers.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, 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.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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.
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.
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.
Similar quotes
The only thing that I have done that is not mitigated by luck, diminished by good fortune, is that I persisted, and other people gave up.
I didn't care what, how much adversity life threw at me. I intended to get to the top.
Know why people run marathons? β¦Because running is rooted in our collective imagination, and our imagination is rooted in running. Language, art, science; space shuttles, Starry Night, intravascular surgery; they all had their roots in our ability to run. Running was the superpower that made us human β which means its a superpower all humans posses.
You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.
Make specific appointments with yourself to work on goals, and treat an appointment with yourself as you'd treat an appointment with anybody else.
Everybody has a gameplan until he gets hit