The characteristic which struck me most was his superabundance of common sense. His power of managing men, of deciding and avoiding difficult questions, surpassed that of any man I ever met. A keen insight of human nature had been cultivated by the trials and struggles of his early life. He knew the people and how to reach them better than any man of his time. I heard him tell a great many stories, many of which would not do exactly for the drawing-room; but for the person he wished to reach, and the object he desired to accomplish with the individual, the story did more than any argument could have done.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Lincoln's great skill was his common sense, ability to manage people, and use of stories to reach hearts better than arguments.
- In plain terms
- He used simple sense and stories to lead people effectively.
- What can you take from it?
- Communicate with relatable stories, not just logic.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is a story more persuasive than data?
- How can you balance narrative with facts?
Another view
Stories may oversimplify complex issues.
More from Abraham Lincoln
If you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will.
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Permalink to quote #148 When I left Springfield I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. B…
Permalink to quote #145
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