--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Very few men are fortunate enough to gain…" description: "\"Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.\" — John George Nicolay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/john-george-nicolay-34087_congress_very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gai_628435.png" --- # Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction… ![“Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.” quote by John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/john-george-nicolay-34087_congress_very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gai_628435.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/john-george-nicolay-34087_congress_very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gai_628435.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/john-george-nicolay-34087_congress_very-few-men-are-fortunate-enough-to-gai_628435.png) > “Very few men are fortunate enough to gain distinction during their first term in Congress.” [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. It notes that early congressional careers rarely allow time for significant achievements, highlighting the difficulty of making a lasting impact quickly. **In simple terms:** First-term congressmen seldom earn distinction. Key Takeaway Focus on long‑term goals beyond the first term. Themes politics career achievement timing Mood cautious realistic Type historical advisory When to use this quote - legislative work - campaign strategy - policy advocacy Key Concepts institutional inertia career development public service Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can new legislators adopt for early impact? - Is patience more valuable than early fame? A Different Perspective Rapid success may be unrealistic without experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [And always remember, Abraham Lincoln only served one term in Congress, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/and-always-remember-abraham-lincoln-only-served-one-term-in-congress/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The way of fortune is like the milky way in the sky; which is a number of smaller stars, not seen asunder, but giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon-sr/the-way-of-fortune-is-like-the-milky-way-in-the-sky-which-is-a-number/) [Francis Bacon Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon-sr/) > [The way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-way-of-fortune-is-like-the-milkyway-in-the-sky-which-is-a-number/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [But if you know that you are a man too, and that even such are those that rule, learn this first of all: that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/but-if-you-know-that-you-are-a-man-too-and-that-even-such-are-those/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Alas for the affairs of men! 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn ## 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/) > [Nobody understood better than Mr. Lincoln the obvious truth that in politics it does not suffice merely to nominate candidates. Something must also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/nobody-understood-better-than-mr-lincoln-the-obvious-truth-that-in/) [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/) > [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 Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. 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