Able Quote by Abraham Lincoln
![“Extemporaneous speaking should be practised [sic] and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech. And yet there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than relying…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1d5/abraham-lincoln-88_able_extemporaneous-speaking-should-be-practi_346718.jpg)
“Extemporaneous speaking should be practised [sic] and cultivated. It is the lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech. And yet there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than relying too much on speech-making. If any one, upon his rare powers of speaking, shall claim an exemption from the drudgery of the law, his case is a failure in advance.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on the Practice of Law, 1860
Effective oral advocacy is essential for lawyers to attract clients and succeed, but overreliance on speaking can be a fatal mistake if it neglects substantive legal work.
In simple terms: Lawyers need good speaking skills but must also do solid legal work.
Key Takeaway
Balance speaking practice with diligent legal work.
Themes
law
advocacy
client acquisition
professional development
Mood
determined
cautious
Type
advice
professional.
When to use this quote
- courtroom presentations
- client meetings
- networking events
- law school training
- continuing education
Key Concepts
oratory skill
legal competence
career risk
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure your speaking complements, not replaces, solid legal work?
- What strategies balance oral advocacy with substantive preparation?
A Different Perspective
Speaking alone cannot compensate for poor legal analysis or ethics.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
