OnSaturdaymorning,April15,1865,AbrahamLincolnlaydyinginahallbedroomofacheaplodginghousedirectlyacrossthestreetfromFord’sTheater,whereBoothhadshothim.AsLincolnlaydying,peoplesaid,“Thereliesthemostperfectrulerofmenthattheworldhaseverseen.”WhatwasthesecretofLincoln’ssuccessindealingwithmen?IstudiedthelifeofAbrahamLincolnfortenyears,anddevotedallofthreeyearstowritingandrewritingabookentitledLincolntheUnknown.IbelieveIhavemadeasdetailedandexhaustiveastudyofLincoln’spersonalityandhomelifeasitispossibleforanyhumanbeingtomake.ImadeaspecialstudyofLincoln’smethodofdealingwithmen.Didheindulgeincriticism?Oh,yes.Henotonlycriticizedbuthewrotelettersandpoemsridiculingpeopleanddroppedtheselettersonthecountryroadswheretheyweresuretobefound.
Oneoftheselettersarousedresentmentsthatburnedforalifetime.Intheautumnof1842,heridiculedavainIrishpoliticianbythenameofJamesShields.Shields,sensitiveandproud,boiledwithindignation.HechallengedLincolntofightaduel.Lincolndidn’twanttofight,buthecouldn’tgetoutofitandsavehishonor.Ontheappointedday,heandShieldspreparedtofighttothedeath,butatthelastminute,theirsecondsinterruptedandstoppedtheduel.ThisaccidenttaughtLincolnaninvaluablelessonintheartofdealingwithpeople.Neveragaindidhewriteaninsultingletter.
Neveragaindidheridiculeanyone.Andfromthattimeon,healmostnevercriticizedanybodyforanything.Anyfoolcancriticize,condemn,andcomplain—andmostfoolsdo.Butittakescharacterandself-controltobeunderstandingandforgiving.Agreatmanshowshisgreatnessbythewayhetreatslittleman.
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