--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I now leave, not knowing when or whether…" description: "\"“I now leave, not knowing when or whether I may return, to a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/abraham-lincoln-88_commend_i-now-leave-not-knowing-when-or-whether_2635860.png" --- # I now leave, not knowing when or whether I may return, to… ![“I now leave, not knowing when or whether I may return, to a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/abraham-lincoln-88_commend_i-now-leave-not-knowing-when-or-whether_2635860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/abraham-lincoln-88_commend_i-now-leave-not-knowing-when-or-whether_2635860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/abraham-lincoln-88_commend_i-now-leave-not-knowing-when-or-whether_2635860.png) > ““I now leave, not knowing when or whether I may return, to a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”” [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. Lincoln expresses reliance on divine guidance for a daunting mission beyond his own capacity, emphasizing faith and hope for success. **In simple terms:** He trusts God to help and protect him in a great task. Key Takeaway Seek divine support in overwhelming challenges. Themes faith leadership humility Mood reflective hopeful Type historical spiritual When to use this quote - military campaigns - personal hardship - spiritual reflection Key Concepts divine providence trust mission Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance faith with personal responsibility? - What role does hope play in difficult decisions? A Different Perspective Reliance on faith may not guarantee practical outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affectionate Farewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affectionate-farewell-2227064/) [Care Commending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-commending-2227063/) [Commend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commend/) [Commending Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commending-hope-2227062/) [Prayers Commend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers-commend-2227061/) ## Related quotes > [Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/trusting-in-him-who-can-go-with-me-and-remain-with-you-and-be-every/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/having-now-finished-the-work-assigned-me-i-retire-from-the-great-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Why did you envy? Why you go against me when I got trendy? Why you ain't commend me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/why-did-you-envy-why-you-go-against-me-when-i-got-trendy-why-you-ain/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [In buying a horse or taking a wife, shut your eyes tight and commend yourself to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-buying-a-horse-or-taking-a-wife-shut-your-eyes-tight-and-commend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/reprove-your-friend-privately-commend-him-publicly/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [But he whose inborn worth his acts commend, Of gentle soul, to human race a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/but-he-whose-inborn-worth-his-acts-commend-of-gentle-soul-to-human/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-jane-grey/lord-into-thy-hands-i-commend-my-spirit/) [Lady Jane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-jane-grey/) > [Pleasures are all alike simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/pleasures-are-all-alike-simply-considered-in-themselves-he-that-hunts/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [Learn to commend thy daily acts to God, so shall the dry every-day duties of common life be steps to heaven, and lift they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bouverie-pusey/learn-to-commend-thy-daily-acts-to-god-so-shall-the-dry-every-day/) [Edward Bouverie Pusey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bouverie-pusey/) > [This is why I belong, and why I believe. I commend to all this same search for happiness and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/this-is-why-i-belong-and-why-i-believe-i-commend-to-all-this-same/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I commend #AIESEC's continuing efforts to develop the #future #business #leadership of our countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-commend-aiesec-s-continuing-efforts-to-develop-the-future-business/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Every man wants to be appreciated, so do not just commend your secretary, commend your wife at home too The world judges people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-do-not-just-commend-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Reprove thy friend privately: commend him publicly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/reprove-thy-friend-privately-commend-him-publicly/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [I commend Sri Chinmoy for his faith and serenity, and I hope he will continue to exert his calming and constructive influence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mulroney/i-commend-sri-chinmoy-for-his-faith-and-serenity-and-i-hope-he-will/) [Brian Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mulroney/) > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) ## 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 Commend quotes > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) > [I commend Sri Chinmoy for his faith and serenity, and I hope he will continue to exert his calming and constructive influence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mulroney/i-commend-sri-chinmoy-for-his-faith-and-serenity-and-i-hope-he-will/) [Brian Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mulroney/) > [“Reprove thy friend privately: commend him publicly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/reprove-thy-friend-privately-commend-him-publicly/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [“Every man wants to be appreciated, so do not just commend your secretary, commend your wife at home too The world judges people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-do-not-just-commend-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I commend #AIESEC's continuing efforts to develop the #future #business #leadership of our countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-commend-aiesec-s-continuing-efforts-to-develop-the-future-business/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [This is why I belong, and why I believe. I commend to all this same search for happiness and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/this-is-why-i-belong-and-why-i-believe-i-commend-to-all-this-same/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Learn to commend thy daily acts to God, so shall the dry every-day duties of common life be steps to heaven, and lift they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bouverie-pusey/learn-to-commend-thy-daily-acts-to-god-so-shall-the-dry-every-day/) [Edward Bouverie Pusey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bouverie-pusey/) > [Pleasures are all alike simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/pleasures-are-all-alike-simply-considered-in-themselves-he-that-hunts/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-jane-grey/lord-into-thy-hands-i-commend-my-spirit/) [Lady Jane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-jane-grey/) > [But he whose inborn worth his acts commend, Of gentle soul, to human race a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/but-he-whose-inborn-worth-his-acts-commend-of-gentle-soul-to-human/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Reprove your friend privately, commend him publicly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/reprove-your-friend-privately-commend-him-publicly/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [In buying a horse or taking a wife, shut your eyes tight and commend yourself to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-buying-a-horse-or-taking-a-wife-shut-your-eyes-tight-and-commend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why did you envy? Why you go against me when I got trendy? Why you ain't commend me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/why-did-you-envy-why-you-go-against-me-when-i-got-trendy-why-you-ain/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [“Stop tagging everyone into your life's profile. 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