---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seriously, I do not think I am fit for…"
description: "\"Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.\" — Abraham Lincoln"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png"
---

#  Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.

![“Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png)

> “Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.”

[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.

He admits feeling unqualified for the presidency, showing humility and self‑awareness.

**In simple terms:** Acknowledges personal limitations.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and respect one’s limits.

Themes

humility leadership self‑awareness

Mood

reflective serious

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- campaigns
- public office
- decision making

Key Concepts

political ethics personal integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- What qualities make a leader fit for office?
- How does humility affect leadership effectiveness?

A Different Perspective

Leaders must sometimes step aside for better candidates.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Seriously, I do not think I fit for the presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-fit-for-the-presidency/)

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

> [I think I fit into any type of system because I don't really have a certain position. Sometimes people try and label me, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-williamson/i-think-i-fit-into-any-type-of-system-because-i-don-t-really-have-a/)

[Zion Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-williamson/)

> [I'm a plus-sized girl and people just think, 'You're not fit.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-love/i-m-a-plus-sized-girl-and-people-just-think-you-re-not-fit/)

[Judi Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-love/)

> [If you think you fit into a situation, it's worth trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/if-you-think-you-fit-into-a-situation-it-s-worth-trying/)

[Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/)

> [I'm a big Prada fan. I always think that they seem to fit me well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-packham/i-m-a-big-prada-fan-i-always-think-that-they-seem-to-fit-me-well/)

[Jenny Packham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-packham/)

> [I don't think that I could fit into the costume anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-meriwether/i-don-t-think-that-i-could-fit-into-the-costume-anymore/)

Lee Meriwether

> [I think I could fit into every system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/i-think-i-could-fit-into-every-system/)

[Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/)

> [I think being fit is an indispensable ingredient for holistic well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-mohan/i-think-being-fit-is-an-indispensable-ingredient-for-holistic-well/)

[Shakti Mohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-mohan/)

> [It's easy to think you have to fit some kind of mold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-mendes/it-s-easy-to-think-you-have-to-fit-some-kind-of-mold/)

[Camila Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-mendes/)

> [I don't think I fit the Marilyn Maxwell mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-grant/i-don-t-think-i-fit-the-marilyn-maxwell-mode/)

[Lee Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-grant/)

> [“We could try to go together, "I said. "I think we'd both fit, and that way, if we end up transported to another dimension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/we-could-try-to-go-together-i-said-i-think-we-d-both-fit-and-that-way/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [People will always put you in a box that they think you fit in, and it's up to you to not fall into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-helfer/people-will-always-put-you-in-a-box-that-they-think-you-fit-in-and-it/)

[Tricia Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-helfer/)

> [I think a well-fit T-shirt and jeans can just kill, style-wise. At least, that's what I tell myself, because that's what I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmi-simpson/i-think-a-well-fit-t-shirt-and-jeans-can-just-kill-style-wise-at/)

[Jimmi Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmi-simpson/)

> [If I had my life to live all over again, I really think I would have been a fit person. Looking around me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/if-i-had-my-life-to-live-all-over-again-i-really-think-i-would-have/)

[Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/)

> [I am never usually taking myself too seriously and I think that people when they read stuff from me, they have to realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-am-never-usually-taking-myself-too-seriously-and-i-think-that/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

## 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 Esteem quotes

> [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/)

[Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/)

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/)

[Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/)

> [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/)

[Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

> [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/)

[Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/)

> [You never exist quite so much as when you are not thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-never-exist-quite-so-much-as-when-you-are-not-thinking/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/)

[Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/)

> [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/)

[John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/)

> [When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/when-one-is-a-stranger-to-oneself-then-one-is-estranged-from-others/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

[Browse all 1,681 Esteem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Abraham Lincoln"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-the-presidency/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Esteem"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-the-presidency/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/abraham-lincoln-88_esteem_seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-th_448471.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.” — 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": "Seriously, I do not think I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-the-presidency/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-the-presidency/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
