--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone asked me...how it felt and I was…" description: "\"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 o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/anonymous-1_abraham_someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-r_75050.jpg" --- # Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a… ![“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…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/anonymous-1_abraham_someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-r_75050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/anonymous-1_abraham_someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-r_75050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/anonymous-1_abraham_someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-r_75050.jpg) > “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.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [Asked Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-felt-379392/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Felt Reminded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-reminded-973688/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [It hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-hurts/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Lincoln Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lincoln-asked-973689/) [Little Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boy/) [Little boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-boys/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toes/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Unsuccessful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsuccessful/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [Abraham Lincoln was asked by an aide about the church service he had attended. Lincoln responded that the minister was inspired, interesting, well-prepared, eloquent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/abraham-lincoln-was-asked-by-an-aide-about-the-church-service-he-had/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“When Lincoln was asked if God was on the Union’s side, Lincoln’s unvarying response was that what was really important was whether they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-lincoln-was-asked-if-god-was-on-the-union-s-side-lincoln-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I loved the way it felt that night. My heart was broken — completely, utterly shattered — and I liked the way that pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandi-steiner/i-loved-the-way-it-felt-that-night-my-heart-was-broken-completely/) [Kandi Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandi-steiner/) > [“I heard her walking away. Lincoln stayed where he was for a while and then sat down beside me again. 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There is scarcely anything in my experience about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-often-been-asked-how-i-felt-when-first-i-found-myself-on-free/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [When I was asked how I felt love, I opened my mouth to say the numerous stuff that came into my mind.. But seriously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/when-i-was-asked-how-i-felt-love-i-opened-my-mouth-to-say-the/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [“Most of the questions people asked you, he felt, were there to fill up dead space, curtail your movements, divert your energy and attention.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/most-of-the-questions-people-asked-you-he-felt-were-there-to-fill-up/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [One of my eco-friendly hotties asked how I felt about climate change telling me that no one was listening to her, so I asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/one-of-my-eco-friendly-hotties-asked-how-i-felt-about-climate-change/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [ \[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:\] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-prime-minister-i-don-t-know-i/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I have a natural tendency to feel well about the world, I suppose, one way or another. But then there is the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-a-natural-tendency-to-feel-well-about-the-world-i-suppose-one/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [When people with power see things happen of which they disapprove, they drop bombs and send in tanks. When people without power see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-with-power-see-things-happen-of-which-they-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. 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Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. 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At Gettysburg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/what-began-as-a-bitter-dispute-over-union-and-states-rights-ended-as/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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