--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only security a man can ever have is…" description: "\"The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png" --- # The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do… ![“The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png) > “The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.” [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. Skill mastery provides lasting security more than external circumstances **In simple terms:** Being exceptionally good at your work protects you Key Takeaway Focus on excellence in your work Themes skill security mastery Mood determined confident Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job interview - career advancement - entrepreneurship - freelance work - performance reviews Key Concepts professionalism self-reliance Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance skill development with other safeguards? - What external factors could still threaten your security? A Different Perspective Skill alone may not protect against systemic risks or health issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [One's only security in life comes from doing something uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/one-s-only-security-in-life-comes-from-doing-something-uncommonly-well/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Silence is the best security to the man who distrusts himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/silence-is-the-best-security-to-the-man-who-distrusts-himself/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-only-real-security-that-a-man-can-have-in-this-world-is-a-reserve/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [There never has been security. No man has ever known what he would meet around the next corner; if life were predictable it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/there-never-has-been-security-no-man-has-ever-known-what-he-would/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Many years ago, I was found in compromising circumstances in a dressing room by a security man. The other person was hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/many-years-ago-i-was-found-in-compromising-circumstances-in-a/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [She says it's really not very flattering to her that the women who fall in love with her husband are so uncommonly second-rate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/she-says-it-s-really-not-very-flattering-to-her-that-the-women-who/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If you are a person who wants an uncommonly fine life, if you're willing to put in some time each day to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-a-person-who-wants-an-uncommonly-fine-life-if-you-re/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Doing common things uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/doing-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-a-common-thing-uncommonly-well-brings-success/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learn to do the common things uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/learn-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [I was an uncommonly unattractive young man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/i-was-an-uncommonly-unattractive-young-man/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-secret-of-success-is-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [You gotta do common things, uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-yaeger/you-gotta-do-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [Don Yaeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-yaeger/) > [Success is doing the common things of life, uncommonly well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-doing-the-common-things-of-life-uncommonly-well/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-secret-to-success-is-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is-the-ability-to-do-a-job/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is-the-ability-to-do-a-job/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8b/abraham-lincoln-88_ability_the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is_1605509.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.” — 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": "The only security a man can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is-the-ability-to-do-a-job/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-only-security-a-man-can-ever-have-is-the-ability-to-do-a-job/#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 } } ] } ```