---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a general rule, I abstain from reading…"
description: "\"As a general rule, I abstain from reading reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/abraham-lincoln-88_abstain_as-a-general-rule-i-abstain-from-reading_1603164.png"
---

#  As a general rule, I abstain from reading reports of…

![“As a general rule, I abstain from reading reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/abraham-lincoln-88_abstain_as-a-general-rule-i-abstain-from-reading_1603164.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/abraham-lincoln-88_abstain_as-a-general-rule-i-abstain-from-reading_1603164.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/abraham-lincoln-88_abstain_as-a-general-rule-i-abstain-from-reading_1603164.png)

> “As a general rule, I abstain from reading reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.”

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Avoiding hostile news protects emotional stability when you cannot respond effectively.

**In simple terms:** Ignore attacks you can't answer.

Key Takeaway

Focus on actions you can control.

Themes

self‑control emotional health information overload

Mood

reflective calm

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- political strategy
- media consumption

Key Concepts

Stoicism psychological resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What information do you filter out?
- How might confronting criticism improve you?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring all criticism can blind you to legitimate issues.

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## Related quotes

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> [The Christian must abstain from sin. It is as simple and direct as that. You have no right to say, 'I am weak, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn/the-christian-must-abstain-from-sin-it-is-as-simple-and-direct-as/)

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> [We live only to dance. If living were not an essential prerequisite, we would abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/we-live-only-to-dance-if-living-were-not-an-essential-prerequisite-we/)

[Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/)

> [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/)

[Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/)

> [In doubt if an action is just, abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/in-doubt-if-an-action-is-just-abstain/)

[Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/)

> [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [Make no mistake: Deciding to abstain from the Pledge of Allegiance does communicate something, and therefore, it is a form of speech. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/make-no-mistake-deciding-to-abstain-from-the-pledge-of-allegiance/)

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> [“THAT you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves, from these you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/that-you-abstain-from-things-offered-to-idols-from-blood-from-things/)

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> [When you are near I abstain myself,but when you are away I badly miss you sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pappi-reddy/when-you-are-near-i-abstain-myself-but-when-you-are-away-i-badly-miss/)

[Pappi Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pappi-reddy/)

> [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/)

[John Randolph of Roanoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph-of-roanoke/)

## More by Abraham Lincoln

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

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> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

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> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

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[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

[Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## More Abstain quotes

> [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/)

[John Randolph of Roanoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-randolph-of-roanoke/)

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> [In doubt if an action is just, abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/in-doubt-if-an-action-is-just-abstain/)

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> [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/)

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[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [When we are in doubt whether an action is good or bad, abstain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/when-we-are-in-doubt-whether-an-action-is-good-or-bad-abstain-from-it/)

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