--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln…" description: "\"Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/john-george-nicolay-34087_candidates_nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln_202750.png" --- # Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious… ![“Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be done to elect them.” quote by John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/john-george-nicolay-34087_candidates_nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln_202750.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/john-george-nicolay-34087_candidates_nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln_202750.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/john-george-nicolay-34087_candidates_nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln_202750.png) > “Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be done to elect them.” [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political success requires both candidate selection and active voter mobilization, not just nominations. **In simple terms:** Winning elections needs more than naming candidates. Key Takeaway Focus on campaigning and voter outreach. Themes politics election strategy campaigning Mood strategic analytical Type political motivational When to use this quote - election planning - grassroots organizing - candidate promotion - public persuasion Key Concepts democratic process voter mobilization Questions to Reflect On - How can campaigns better engage undecided voters? - What tactics increase voter turnout? A Different Perspective Neglecting voter engagement can lead to low turnout despite strong candidates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“He was at last untrammelled by constitutional conditions and limitations, was free to carry the War into Africa. “Carthago est delenda” was thenceforth ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/he-was-at-last-untrammelled-by-constitutional-conditions-and/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [Mr. Lincoln had no hope, and no faith, in the usual acceptation of those words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-todd-lincoln/mr-lincoln-had-no-hope-and-no-faith-in-the-usual-acceptation-of-those/) [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-todd-lincoln/) > [Politically I did not like Mr. Lincoln, for in him I saw the destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/politically-i-did-not-like-mr-lincoln-for-in-him-i-saw-the-destroyer/) [Belle Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-boyd/) > [“Mr. Lincoln, the merciful and just, who cries large tears over Mrs. Bixby's five boys, hasn't any tears to shed about the thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/mr-lincoln-the-merciful-and-just-who-cries-large-tears-over-mrs-bixby/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were: 'What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-todd-lincoln/mr-lincoln-s-maxim-and-philosophy-were-what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no/) [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-todd-lincoln/) > [When I come to work in this capital, I'll visit Mr. Lincoln every day. I've been walking in his footsteps my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/when-i-come-to-work-in-this-capital-i-ll-visit-mr-lincoln-every-day-i/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/viewed-from-the-genuine-abolition-ground-mr-lincoln-seemed-tardy-cold/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred yielding his own wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/mr-lincoln-gained-influence-over-men-by-making-them-feel-that-it-was/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“No one who has ever done anything worth doing has gone uncriticized. As regards the matter at hand (as regards him), I am, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/no-one-who-has-ever-done-anything-worth-doing-has-gone-uncriticized/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I salute to you Commander and I sneeze 'Cause I have Now an Allergy To your policies it seems Where have we gone wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-salute-to-you-commander-and-i-sneeze-cause-i-have-now-an-allergy-to/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me that he had never professed to be a military man or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-my-first-interview-with-mr-lincoln-alone-he-stated-to-me-that-he/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Really, Mr. Lincoln, I have had enough of this show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/really-mr-lincoln-i-have-had-enough-of-this-show-business/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [America is thataway, Mr. Lincoln," laughed Davis, pointing north. "You're in Mississippi now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/america-is-thataway-mr-lincoln-laughed-davis-pointing-north-you-re-in/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [Mr. Lincoln is already defeated. He cannot be re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-greeley/mr-lincoln-is-already-defeated-he-cannot-be-re-elected/) [Horace Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-greeley/) > [I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln. My addresses will never be as eloquent as Mr. Lincoln's. But I will do my very best to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-m-a-ford-not-a-lincoln-my-addresses-will-never-be-as-eloquent-as-mr/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ## More by John George Nicolay > [Lincoln's removal from New Salem to Springfield and his entrance into a law partnership with Major John T. Stuart begin a distinctively new period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/lincoln-s-removal-from-new-salem-to-springfield-and-his-entrance-into/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The meetings of the legislature at Springfield then first brought together that splendid group of young men of genius whose phenomenal careers and distinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-meetings-of-the-legislature-at-springfield-then-first-brought/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It is therefore not to be wondered at that Lincolns single term in the House of Representatives at Washington added practically nothing to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-is-therefore-not-to-be-wondered-at-that-lincolns-single-term-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gain-distinction-during-their/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-function-of-the-politician-therefore-is-one-of-continuous/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The death of Mrs. Lincoln was a serious loss to her husband and children. Abraham's sister Sarah was only eleven years old, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/the-death-of-mrs-lincoln-was-a-serious-loss-to-her-husband-and/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [While Lincoln thus became a lawyer, he did not cease to remain a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/while-lincoln-thus-became-a-lawyer-he-did-not-cease-to-remain-a/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It is therefore not to be wondered at that Lincoln's single term in the House of Representatives at Washington added practically nothing to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-is-therefore-not-to-be-wondered-at-that-lincoln-s-single-term-in/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [In the early West, law and politics were parallel roads to usefulness as well as distinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/in-the-early-west-law-and-politics-were-parallel-roads-to-usefulness/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [It turned out in the long run that Lincoln's credit and the popular confidence that supported it were as valuable both to his creditors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-turned-out-in-the-long-run-that-lincoln-s-credit-and-the-popular/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Activity in politics also produces eager competition and sharp rivalry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/activity-in-politics-also-produces-eager-competition-and-sharp-rivalry/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [Lincoln's stature and strength, his intelligence and ambition - in short, all the elements which gave him popularity among men in New Salem, rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/lincoln-s-stature-and-strength-his-intelligence-and-ambition-in-short/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) [Explore all 14 John George Nicolay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) ## More Candidates quotes > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. 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