--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not allow myself to suppose that…" description: "\"I do not allow myself to suppose that either the convention or the League, have concluded to decide that I am either the greatest or the best man in Am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg" --- # I do not allow myself to suppose that either the… ![“I do not allow myself to suppose that either the convention or the League, have concluded to decide that I am either the greatest or the best man in America, but rather they have concluded it is not best to swap horses while crossing the river, and have further concluded that I am not so poor a…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg) > “I do not allow myself to suppose that either the convention or the League, have concluded to decide that I am either the greatest or the best man in America, but rather they have concluded it is not best to swap horses while crossing the river, and have further concluded that I am not so poor a horse that they might not make a botch of it in trying to swap.” [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. Criticizes indecision and self‑importance, urging practical action over ego. **In simple terms:** Avoid ego and act wisely. Key Takeaway Focus on deeds, not titles. Themes humility leadership pragmatism Mood reflective serious Type historical motivational When to use this quote - government leadership - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts politics self‑awareness decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep humility in power? - What practical steps guide your decisions? A Different Perspective Leaders may still be swayed by ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Best man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-man/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Concluded Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concluded-decide-4159188/) [Conventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions/) [Crossing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossing/) [Crossings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossings/) [Decide Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-greatest-4159187/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Horses Crossing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses-crossing-3085032/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Swap Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swap-horses-2339862/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Don't swap horses in crossing a stream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-swap-horses-in-crossing-a-stream/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“It is not best to swap horses while crossing the river.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-not-best-to-swap-horses-while-crossing-the-river/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Never swap horses crossing a stream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/never-swap-horses-crossing-a-stream/) [American Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-proverb/) > [Don't swap horses in the middle of the stream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/don-t-swap-horses-in-the-middle-of-the-stream/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded, in this connection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-not-permitted-myself-gentlemen-to-conclude-that-i-am-the-best/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Lady crossing the street, not paying attention, almost got hit. Turns to husband & screams, 'Why didn't YOU watch where I was going?!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kal-penn/lady-crossing-the-street-not-paying-attention-almost-got-hit-turns-to/) [Kal Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kal-penn/) > [“Crossing the small wooden bridge, just past the rubble, Gabe ducked off to the left and swooped underneath into hiding. Once sure he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-owens/crossing-the-small-wooden-bridge-just-past-the-rubble-gabe-ducked-off/) [Wendy Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-owens/) > [“Crossing the line, that's what the Highway Patrol woman said. Neely was on a gurney, his injuries deemed non-life-threatening, she was taking her initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendric-neal/crossing-the-line-that-s-what-the-highway-patrol-woman-said-neely-was/) [Kendric Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendric-neal/) > [The real issue is not if a crossing is put in, but when. It would be negligent on the part of Union Pacific and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-real-issue-is-not-if-a-crossing-is-put-in-but-when-it-would-be/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [My wife's brother has a little house on a small island in the Baltic Sea, and we go there at Christmas. The 30-minute crossing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/my-wife-s-brother-has-a-little-house-on-a-small-island-in-the-baltic/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [Those crossing opportunities always come up in a game so you have to be prepared for them so you have to keep practising them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/those-crossing-opportunities-always-come-up-in-a-game-so-you-have-to/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [“More data—such as paying attention to the eye colors of the people around when crossing the street—can make you miss the big truck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/more-data-such-as-paying-attention-to-the-eye-colors-of-the-people/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I did this one movie with a great director named Wayne Kramer. It was 'Crossing Over,' and Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/i-did-this-one-movie-with-a-great-director-named-wayne-kramer-it-was/) [Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/) > [“They were Catholic, my lovers, All in an access of crossing themselves, Particularly their fingers Behind their suspendered backs-- And that was the women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-caroline/they-were-catholic-my-lovers-all-in-an-access-of-crossing-themselves/) [Shay Caroline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-caroline/) > [Be bored and see where it takes you, because the imagination's dusty wilderness is worth crossing if you want to sculpt your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/be-bored-and-see-where-it-takes-you-because-the-imagination-s-dusty/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## 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/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not allow myself to suppose that either the convention or the League, have concluded to decide that I am either the greatest or the best man in America, but rather they have concluded it is not best to swap horses while crossing the river, and have further concluded that I am not so poor a horse that they might not make a botch of it in trying to swap.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-either-the-convention-or-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-either-the-convention-or-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/abraham-lincoln-88_america_i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-ei_2095070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not allow myself to suppose that either the convention or the League, have concluded to decide that I…” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do not allow myself to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-either-the-convention-or-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-not-allow-myself-to-suppose-that-either-the-convention-or-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```