--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I were to try to read, much less…" description: "\"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/abraham-lincoln-88_angel_if-i-were-to-try-to-read-much-less-answe_1213363.png" --- # If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the… ![“If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/abraham-lincoln-88_angel_if-i-were-to-try-to-read-much-less-answe_1213363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/abraham-lincoln-88_angel_if-i-were-to-try-to-read-much-less-answe_1213363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/abraham-lincoln-88_angel_if-i-were-to-try-to-read-much-less-answe_1213363.png) > “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” [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. The speaker asserts that personal effort and integrity matter, regardless of external criticism; ultimate judgment will be based on truth, not opinions. **In simple terms:** Do your best; truth will prevail. Key Takeaway Maintain integrity and perseverance despite criticism. Themes integrity perseverance truth criticism justice Mood reflective steady resolute Type philosophical inspirational personal When to use this quote - personal challenges - public scrutiny - ethical dilemmas - career setbacks Key Concepts moral philosophy personal responsibility resilience ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - What does success mean when judged by others? - How do you stay true to yourself under pressure? A Different Perspective Criticism may still affect outcomes; truth may be contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Attacks Shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-shop-1060349/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Closed Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-business-429546/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Doing End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-end-2698329/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Know Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-best/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Shop Closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shop-closed-1060350/) [Shops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shops/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-were-to-try-to-read-much-less-answer-all-the-attacks-made-on-me-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-the-very-best-i-know-how-the-very-best-i-can-and-i-mean-to-keep/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [You can imagine the sign outside Tory central office. Shop closed - out to lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/you-can-imagine-the-sign-outside-tory-central-office-shop-closed-out/) [Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/) > [I've been advised not to have any more children for medical reasons, so that's it - the shop has closed, even though I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-braxton/i-ve-been-advised-not-to-have-any-more-children-for-medical-reasons/) [Toni Braxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-braxton/) > [Because I didn't have much money, I bought a small shop that fit my budget. The previous six owners had closed their business in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/do-won-chang/because-i-didn-t-have-much-money-i-bought-a-small-shop-that-fit-my/) [Do Won Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/do-won-chang/) > [“I remembered what Dad said once, that some people have all of life's answers worked out the day they're born and there's no use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/i-remembered-what-dad-said-once-that-some-people-have-all-of-life-s/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“I remembered what Dad said once, that some people have all of life's answers worked out the day they're born and there's no use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/i-remembered-what-dad-said-once-that-some-people-have-all-of-life-s-2/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I'm doing me at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-kingston/i-m-doing-me-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Eddie Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-kingston/) > [When faced with a sea of troubles, take action, and in so doing end it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-faced-with-a-sea-of-troubles-take-action-and-in-so-doing-end-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [This administration is doing everything we can to end the stalemate in an efficient way. We're making the right decisions to bring the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/this-administration-is-doing-everything-we-can-to-end-the-stalemate/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [That's the career I've had - I've always had fun with the things I'm doing. At the end of the day, it's always fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-gorgeous/that-s-the-career-i-ve-had-i-ve-always-had-fun-with-the-things-i-m/) [Gigi Gorgeous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-gorgeous/) > [We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke rising than we could know it by one or two witnesses swearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-better-know-there-is-a-fire-whence-we-see-much-smoke-rising-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I do the very best I can, I mean to keep going. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-the-very-best-i-can-i-mean-to-keep-going-if-the-end-brings-me/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/and-of-course-men-know-best-about-everything-except-what-women-know/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) ## 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 Angel quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [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/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. 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