Abraham Quote by Anonymous
“Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked him how he felt once after an unsuccessful election. He said he felt like a little boy who had stubbed his toe in the dark. He said that he was too old to cry, but it hurt too much to laugh.”
About This Quote
The quote illustrates how profound disappointment can feel like a childish, private pain that one hides despite being an adult, highlighting the vulnerability beneath a stoic exterior.
In simple terms: Adult pain can feel childlike.
Key Takeaway
Even the strong hide deep hurt.
Themes
vulnerability
humility
resilience
emotional honesty
failure
Mood
reflective
somber
introspective
Type
anecdote
aphorism
When to use this quote
- after a political loss
- receiving a harsh critique
- facing a personal setback
- dealing with an unexpected failure
Key Concepts
pain
self‑presentation
age
public image
Practical Applications
- counseling sessions
- leadership training
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile public expectations with private feelings?
- What does this say about societal expectations of strength?
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
![“I have a natural tendency to feel well about the world, I suppose, one way or another. But then there is the problem of pain. There are things like [Abraham] Lincoln's beloved little boy dying.” quote by Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1a/zadie-smith-584_abraham_i-have-a-natural-tendency-to-feel-well-a_1356936.jpg)
![“Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not going to allow a con artist to take over the party of [Abraham] Lincoln and [Ronald] Reagan.” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6a/marco-rubio-355_abraham_donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nomi_14750.jpg)
