--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And, finally, Lincoln was not a good…" description: "\"And, finally, Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he was at his best when he could read from a carefully prepared manuscript. Though maybe a tele..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/david-herbert-donald-27496_best_and-finally-lincoln-was-not-a-good-impro_409759.jpg" --- # And, finally, Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he… ![“And, finally, Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he was at his best when he could read from a carefully prepared manuscript. Though maybe a teleprompter could have helped that!” quote by David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/david-herbert-donald-27496_best_and-finally-lincoln-was-not-a-good-impro_409759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/david-herbert-donald-27496_best_and-finally-lincoln-was-not-a-good-impro_409759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a24/david-herbert-donald-27496_best_and-finally-lincoln-was-not-a-good-impro_409759.jpg) > “And, finally, Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he was at his best when he could read from a carefully prepared manuscript. Though maybe a teleprompter could have helped that!” [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lincoln excelled when he could carefully plan his words, rather than speak off the cuff. **In simple terms:** Lincoln was best prepared. Key Takeaway Prepare your speech for best impact. Themes preparation public speaking confidence Mood reflective analytical Type historical educational When to use this quote - political speeches - academic lectures - formal presentations Key Concepts rhetoric speechwriting performance Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance preparation with spontaneity? - When does preparation hinder authenticity? A Different Perspective Even prepared speeches can feel stale without authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Impromptu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impromptu/) ## Related quotes > [Lincoln was not a good impromptu speaker; he was at his best when he could read from a carefully prepared manuscript, though maybe a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-donald/lincoln-was-not-a-good-impromptu-speaker-he-was-at-his-best-when-he/) [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) > [Bush is a very poor impromptu speaker. He does fine in small groups but when speaking without a script in front of large groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schuyler/bush-is-a-very-poor-impromptu-speaker-he-does-fine-in-small-groups/) [Peter Schuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schuyler/) > [It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-usually-takes-me-more-than-three-weeks-to-prepare-a-good-impromptu/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The true touchstone of wit is the impromptu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/the-true-touchstone-of-wit-is-the-impromptu/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I don't know about you, but I call impromptu vomiting harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-don-t-know-about-you-but-i-call-impromptu-vomiting-harm/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“It usually takes me two or three days to prepare an impromptu speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-usually-takes-me-two-or-three-days-to-prepare-an-impromptu-speech/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [We had an exercise in speech class in school, impromptu speaking, that I was always real good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/we-had-an-exercise-in-speech-class-in-school-impromptu-speaking-that/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [“This melodrama differed from others in that it was not written, it was to be played impromptu, and only once; after that it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/this-melodrama-differed-from-others-in-that-it-was-not-written-it-was/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [As far as I'm concerned, dance is a passion for me. 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