What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
—Abraham Lincoln
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Tag Archives: Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
—Abraham Lincoln
LARPing at Leadership
One on the most effective political cartoonists of the middle of the 20th century was Herbert Block who drew under the name of Herblock for the Washington Post. He always gave his caricature of Richard Nixon five o’clock shadow. Herblock clearly despised Nixon, but the day after the 1968 election, he published the cartoon on the left as a way of congratulating Nixon on winning the election. It wasn’t long before the five o’clock shadow reappeared.
Here at Hogewash!, I run every new president’s name through the spell checker for one post.
I’ve seen comments to the effect that Donald Trump was the most divisive president in history or at least in recent history, and that Joe Biden has an opportunity to bring the country back together again. Unity seems to be a big buzzword on the Left these days. I don’t have much hope for such healing.
First, trying to paint Trump as a particularly divisive president is counterfactual. Trump was elected as a response to the divisive politics of the Obama administration much as Nixon was elected in response to the divisive politics of the Johnson administration and Lincoln was elected in response to the divisive politics of the Buchanan administration. BTW, an argument can be made that while Lincoln was among our greatest presidents, he was THE most divisive. His election triggered the Civil War.
But back to 2021.
At least 74,000,000 Americans voted against Joe Biden, and many, perhaps the majority, of them don’t believe that Biden actually won. The Left’s making lists of Trump supporters and talking of reeducation camps isn’t going to help depolarize the country, and it’s up to the new president to show some leadership by engaging respectfully with his political opponents and insisting that his supporters do likewise. I don’t see any indication of such behavior.
Indeed, his initial round of personnel appointments and some of his acts on his first day of the job lead me to believe that he’s the same Joe Biden who has spent almost fifty years as a hack pretending to be a political leader.
Because I want America to be successful, I wish Joe Biden and his administration success in doing well for the country. I wish I had more hope.
Quote of the Day
If you think you can, by slandering a woman make her love you, or by vilifying a man make him vote with you, go on and try it.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
It’s my experience that folks who have no vices have generally very few virtues.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
In law it is a good policy never to plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you cannot.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.
—Abraham Lincoln
Are You Pondering What I’m Pondering?
I think so, Brain … as Abraham Lincoln said, the hardest thing about quotes on the Internet is verifying them.
Quote of the Day
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
—Abraham Lincoln, 1863
Bonus Quote of the Day
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.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
—Abraham Lincoln
Quote of the Day
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
–Abraham Lincoln