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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lincoln emphasizes managing the future by focusing on the present day rather than worrying about distant outcomes.
In plain terms
Focus on today because you cannot control the future all at once.
What can you take from it?
Break long-term goals into daily tasks.

Where it applies

  • stress management
  • goal setting

Putting it to work

  • work day by day

Questions to consider

  • Are you living in the future instead of now?

Another view

It may ignore the need for long-term strategy.

More from Abraham Lincoln

  1. So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!

    Permalink to quote #125
  2. The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.

    Permalink to quote #127
  3. Perhaps a man's character is like a tree, and his reputation like its character: the shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing.

    Permalink to quote #124

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