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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lincoln expresses personal belief in his own safety and in the fundamental good of others.
In plain terms
I don't believe anyone wants to hurt me.
What can you take from it?
Trust in others' goodwill unless proven otherwise.

Where it applies

  • risk assessment
  • interpersonal relations
  • leadership vulnerability

Putting it to work

  • cultivating trust
  • managing risk
  • fostering cooperation

Another view

Overly optimistic view that may ignore genuine threats.

More from Abraham Lincoln

  1. I believe, if we take habitual drunkards as a class, their heads and their hearts will bear an advantageous comparison with those of any other class. There see…

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  2. You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time.

    Permalink to quote #138
  3. You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.

    Permalink to quote #135

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