--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching…" description: "\"We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it. Abraham Lincoln, White House speech 11 April 1865. Or arm th' obdured breast Wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/john-milton-191_abraham_we-shall-sooner-have-the-fowl-by-hatchin_2547246.png" --- # We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by… ![“We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it. Abraham Lincoln, White House speech 11 April 1865. Or arm th' obdured breast With stubborn patience as with triple steel.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/john-milton-191_abraham_we-shall-sooner-have-the-fowl-by-hatchin_2547246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/john-milton-191_abraham_we-shall-sooner-have-the-fowl-by-hatchin_2547246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/john-milton-191_abraham_we-shall-sooner-have-the-fowl-by-hatchin_2547246.png) > “We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it. Abraham Lincoln, White House speech 11 April 1865. Or arm th' obdured breast With stubborn patience as with triple steel.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience and gentle effort achieve results better than forceful destruction. **In simple terms:** Patience beats brute force. Key Takeaway Practice patient, steady action. Themes patience strategy non‑violence Mood calm reflective Type ethical historical When to use this quote - negotiations - parenting - project management Key Concepts ethics conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - When have you chosen patience over aggression? - What tools help you stay patient? A Different Perspective Patience can be slow and frustrating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [April](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/april/) [Hatching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatching/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-shall-sooner-have-the-fowl-by-hatching-the-egg-than-by-smashing-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-key-to-everything-is-patience-you-get-the-chicken-by-hatching-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And as an ev'ning dragon came, Assailant on the perched roosts And nests in order rang'd Of tame villatic fowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-as-an-ev-ning-dragon-came-assailant-on-the-perched-roosts-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O execrable son! so to aspire Above his brethren, to himself assuming Authority usurped, from God not given. He gave us only over beast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-execrable-son-so-to-aspire-above-his-brethren-to-himself-assuming/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [I look at some of my early stuff - back when I was 12 or 13 years old - and I was already doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-plympton/i-look-at-some-of-my-early-stuff-back-when-i-was-12-or-13-years-old/) [Bill Plympton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-plympton/) > [The white men in the East are like birds. They are hatching out their eggs every year, and there is not room enough in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crook/the-white-men-in-the-east-are-like-birds-they-are-hatching-out-their-2/) [George Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crook/) > [“Like some huge, mutant chicken–I sat there hatching a gas-egg the size of a planet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-fartworthy/like-some-huge-mutant-chicken-i-sat-there-hatching-a-gas-egg-the-size/) [Ferguson Fartworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferguson-fartworthy/) > [“Art is a spirit and soul thing. Anything else is mere desperation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/art-is-a-spirit-and-soul-thing-anything-else-is-mere-desperation/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain, because later you might think you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-hope-some-animal-never-bores-a-hole-in-my-head-and-lays-its-eggs-in/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Every bird which flies has the thread of the infinite in its claw. Germination includes the hatching of a meteor and the tap of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/every-bird-which-flies-has-the-thread-of-the-infinite-in-its-claw-2/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Don't count your chickens before they egg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-o-donovan/don-t-count-your-chickens-before-they-egg/) Ross O'Donovan > [(Baudelaire) had descended to the bottom of the inexhaustible mine, had picked his way along abandoned or unexplored galleries, and had finally reached those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/baudelaire-had-descended-to-the-bottom-of-the-inexhaustible-mine-had/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [Listen, sweet Dove, unto my song, And spread thy golden wings in me; Hatching my tender heart so long, Till it get wing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/listen-sweet-dove-unto-my-song-and-spread-thy-golden-wings-in-me/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Life may not be exactly pleasant, but it is at least not dull. Heave yourself into Hell today, and you may miss, tomorrow or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-may-not-be-exactly-pleasant-but-it-is-at-least-not-dull-heave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...hatching his poems..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/hatching-his-poems/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Explore all 966 John Milton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## 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. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. 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. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it. Abraham Lincoln, White House speech 11 April 1865. 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