Suffice to say we Kentuckians are understandably proud that Mr. Lincoln was also a Kentuckian.
More importantly he was an American and every single one of us can be both proud and thankful for that.
As you may know, I am completely in love with old books. One of my favorites is Words to Live By (Copyright 1947-1957). This golden oldie is a collection of writings by some of the wisest men and women of all time.
In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, I thought you might enjoy this article which appears in Words to Live By. It’s by Reverend James Keller and it is outstanding.
Failure Isn’t Fatal
by The Reverend James Keller, M.M.
Author of “You Can Change the World”
Too often, it seems to me, people lose their courage in facing life because of past failures or fear that they may fail in the future.
One good way to cure such fears is to remember the story of a man who actually built a lifetime of accomplishments out of defeats. The following litany of failures that punctuated his life throughout thirty years is a living and eloquent example of the successful use of defeat in achieving victory.
Abraham Lincoln’s record is as follows:
- Lost job 1832
- Defeated for legislature 1832
- Failed in business 1833
- Elected to legislature 1834
- Sweetheart died 1835
- Had nervous breakdown 1836
- Defeated for speaker 1838
- Defeated for nomination for Congress 1843
- Elected to Congress 1846
- Lost renomination 1848
- Rejected for land officer 1849
- Defeated for Senate 1854
- Defeated for nomination for Vice-President 1856
- Again defeated for Senate 1858
- Elected President 1860
Lincoln’s deep conviction that God had given him a mission to fulfill accounted in no small way for his deep humility and ability to push on in the face of difficulties and failures that would have discouraged most people.
His abiding faith was well summed up in this comment which he made after becoming President: “God selects His own instruments, and sometimes they are queer ones; for instance, He chose me to steer the ship through a great crisis.”
You, too, in God’s providence can be an instrument in bringing His love, truth and peace to a world in urgent need of it.
And with Abraham Lincoln, you too can learn to say, “With God’s help I shall not fail.”
Never despair. But if you do, work on in despair. – Edmund Burke
William says
September 26, 2008 at 2:05 amI read about Abraham Lincoln’s failures a while ago, and its such a good motivator that success is always just around the corner. Sometimes you have to fail just to even see the corner.
Keri says
September 26, 2008 at 4:14 pmwho is the author of words to live by? i found 2 different ones at the library.
Arts Musings says
September 26, 2008 at 6:04 pmWhat a great reminder! I’ve seen Abraham Lincoln’s perserverance history in many places and in many formats but until now I didn’t know what the source was. What I love most about it is that it shows that even the ultra successful are real poeople, with real problems and real obstacles in their path. But aren’t these challenges really just opportunities for us to prove that we really want what we’re going after? If it were easy, everyone would be doing it and it would lose it’s significance.
Thanks for sharing.
joi says
September 27, 2008 at 5:02 pmWilliam,
I love the way you worded that! You are so right. – Joi
joi says
September 27, 2008 at 5:04 pmArts Musings,
Challenges are most definitely opportunities – and thank goodness for them! I guess how you approach them makes all the difference. – Joi
joi says
September 27, 2008 at 5:07 pmKeri,
This particular book bills itself as:
“A New Treasury of Words to Live By”
Selected and Interpreted by
Ninety Eminent Men and Women
Edited by William Nichols
I’ll be adding more of its wisdom to the site over the next few weeks. Theres a lot of great stuff inside these old pages! – Joi
Luise Volta says
October 4, 2008 at 6:30 pmTalk about never giving up! I found the article inspiring. Right now, before I forget or get distracted, I’m going to start my failure list. Thanks.
Azad says
February 13, 2015 at 1:02 amwho is the author of this version of “Word to live by”?
Joi says
February 24, 2015 at 3:40 pmAzad, This particular book, “A Treasury of Words to Live By” lists the following as “author” – “Selected and Interpreted by Ninety Eminent Men and Women. Edited by William Nichols.” The publisher is Simon and Schuster – It was originally published in 1947. It’s one of my favorite books in our entire library!
Josh Perry says
September 9, 2015 at 3:52 pmI was once told by a great man “Success is not measured by the position of life you are in, but rather the amount of failure you have overcome and gained a victory from.”
This same man has done tremendous things with his life to effect other people in a highly positive way and strives to do more everyday. He got to this point by taking massive action and failing over and over, getting back up, and coming back with a different approach.
Failure and success come hand and hand, regardless of their meanings. Massive action produces massive results. Successful people do not become successful by sitting around doing the same old thing.
If you enjoyed my thought about action and success, you should read the book, that the great man I speak of wrote, called “Mentor: The Kid & The CEO” and see in a real example, what massive action can do in your life.