Abraham Lincoln’s Letter

About the Author & Poem

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865): The 16th President of the United States, Lincoln is revered for leading the nation through the Civil War and abolishing slavery. He was known for his wisdom, integrity, and powerful command of the English language.

The Poem: This "poem" is actually a celebrated letter believed to have been written by Abraham Lincoln to his son's teacher. In it, he outlines the essential values and life lessons he wishes for his son to learn. He asks the teacher to instill qualities like honesty, courage, and resilience, emphasizing that while the world is full of scoundrels and enemies, it is also filled with heroes and friends. The letter is a timeless guide on character building and staying true to one's conscience.

I. Comprehension Questions (Brief Answers)

Answer: 'He' refers to Abraham Lincoln's son, and 'I' refers to Abraham Lincoln himself.

Answer: (b) the son has no choice.

Answer: (b) the harsh reality of life.

Answer: (c) in spite of all the wickedness in this world, there is enough goodness.

Answer: If the child is not aware of the heroes, leaders and friends, he might think that the world has only scoundrels, selfish politicians and enemies and become dejected.

Answer: (c) both the positive and negative sides of life.

Answer: That a dollar earned is of far more value than five found.

Answer: Be sportive and accept defeat with a smile.

Answer: It is better to admit that one doesn't know than to pretend to know everything. (Alternatively, it is more honourable to fail with honesty than to succeed through dishonesty).

Answer:
a) The crowd might be interested in doing something wrong. Hence the father doesn't want his son to follow it but be confident about his own purpose in life.
b) People who usually develop bad habits or engage in crimes do so only because they want to impress others. The father doesn't want his son to live only to impress others.

Answer: The father wants his son to listen to all kinds of people but not believe everything he hears. He wants his son to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth.

Answer: The writer is highlighting the value of stoicism and critical thinking in life.

Answer: Lincoln wants his son to be careful about people who speak very sweetly because he knows that often people who want some favour from us are very sweet to us.

Answer: A mob can be very effective in influencing a person to be wrong, no matter how determined he is to be good. Hence, he wants his son to close his ears to a howling mob and have faith in his own good sense.

Answer: He wants his son's teacher to teach his son to have sublime faith in himself because only then will the son have sublime faith in mankind.

Answer: Lincoln wants his son to remain incorruptible throughout his life and never compromise on values.

Answer: 'A big order' refers to the various difficult values and life lessons the father wants the teacher to develop in his son.

Answer: (c) that the task of teaching such values is too difficult for any teacher or school.

• enemy X friend
• scoundrel X hero
• selfish politician X dedicated leader
• dollar earned X five found
• learn to lose X enjoy winning
• wonder of books X eternal mystery of birds
• honourable to fail X to cheat
• gentle X tough
• sell brawn and brain X never put price-tag on soul
• treat him gently X do not cuddle him
• courage to be impatient X patience to be brave
• sublime faith in himself X sublime faith in mankind

II. Close Study (Extracts)

b) What human virtue is highlighted here?
Answer: Positivity of the mind.

c) What will take time?
Answer: Understanding people and recognizing their inherent goodness.

c) What human virtue is emphasized here?
Answer: Courage and resilience to face adversities in life.

III. Paragraph Writing

Answer: The poet says that it is important to listen to all men to show respect without discrimination. However, he wants his son not to give in to everything they say. Instead, he should learn to filter all that he has heard on a "screen of truth" and accept only what is correct after considering it properly.

Answer: The poet wants his son to pass through fire because he is sure that only the test of fire produces strong, fine steel. He wants the presence of challenges rather than their absence, so that his son emerges stronger and braver in character.

In this letter, Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the values he would like his son to learn. He wants his son to realize that while all men are not just, for every bad person there is a good one. He wants the teacher to teach him the value of labour and hard work, and that a dollar earned is worth more than five found. He wishes for his son to be away from jealousy, learn the secret of quiet laughter, and avoid bullies. He wants him to appreciate the wonder of books but also have quiet time to ponder the mysteries of nature. Lincoln asks that his son have faith in his own ideas, be gentle with the gentle and tough with the tough, and never "trade his soul for a price tag." Ultimately, he wants his son to have sublime faith in himself so he can have faith in all of mankind.