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
The worst thing you can do for anyone you care about is anything that they can do on their own.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Helping others too much may hinder their personal growth and independence.
This quote by Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the importance of allowing those we care about to develop their own abilities and take responsibility for their own actions. When we do things for others that they are capable of doing themselves, we can stifle their growth and independence, ultimately doing them a disservice instead of helping.
Themes
IndependenceGrowthSupportResponsibilityEmpowerment
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a motivational talk about personal development.
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham LincolnRead
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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.
Abraham LincolnRead
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
Similar quotes
I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That's getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.
Steve MartinRead
This multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed.
Angela MerkelRead
No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence.
George EliotRead
I don't want to be your other half. I believe that one and one make two.
Alanis MorissetteRead
A lot of ink is given over to mythologizing female friendships as curious, fragile relationships that are always intensely fraught. Stop reading writing that encourages this mythology.
Roxane GayRead
I said something really stupid once. I told a friend that my mother was so beautiful, but my dad was ugly. My dad heard it and just laughed it off, but I felt guilty. It haunted me for years. I should never have said that.
Gene WilderRead