---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired…"
description: "\"“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.”\" — Rick Atkinson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg"
---

#  Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t…

![“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.” quote by Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg)

> ““Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.””

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Lincoln’s comment highlights a strategic point that is hard to attack, emphasizing the difficulty of confronting entrenched problems.

**In simple terms:** Hard to attack spots are hard to fix.

Key Takeaway

Identify and address tough problems directly.

Themes

strategy politics conflict

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical strategic

When to use this quote

- military planning
- policy making
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

military tactics political rhetoric

Questions to Reflect On

- How can leaders turn a “tired spot” into an advantage?
- What makes a problem seem untouchable?

A Different Perspective

Even obvious weak points can be defended effectively.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Called Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-tired-4612895/) [Inelegantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inelegantly-4612897/) [Inelegantly Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inelegantly-called-4612896/) [Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lincoln/) [Lincoln Inelegantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lincoln-inelegantly-4612893/) [Tired Spot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired-spot-4612894/)

## Related quotes

> [Inelegantly, and without my consent, time passed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/inelegantly-and-without-my-consent-time-passed/)

[Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/)

> [I received orders from Congress to proceed to Charleston in South Carolina, for the purpose of Co'operating with General Lincoln in the defense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-whipple/i-received-orders-from-congress-to-proceed-to-charleston-in-south/)

[Abraham Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-whipple/)

> [“Most people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lickona/most-people-abraham-lincoln-said-are-about-as-happy-as-they-make-up/)

[Thomas Lickona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lickona/)

> [What makes the Lincoln Memorial so powerful is that it doesn't try to do too much. In effect, it says that he saved the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-eisenhower/what-makes-the-lincoln-memorial-so-powerful-is-that-it-doesn-t-try-to/)

[Susan Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-eisenhower/)

> [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/)

> [“If I didn't have Lincoln's butt to stare at the whole time, motivation would be a lot harder to come by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shirvington/if-i-didn-t-have-lincoln-s-butt-to-stare-at-the-whole-time-motivation/)

[Jessica Shirvington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shirvington/)

> [“What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no-prayers-of-ours-can-arrest-the-decree/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [The most important thing about Jazz at Lincoln Center is the fact that it's the first time that perhaps the most important art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/the-most-important-thing-about-jazz-at-lincoln-center-is-the-fact/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [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/)

> [“And Lincoln, as would be evidenced throughout his presidency, was a master of timing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/and-lincoln-as-would-be-evidenced-throughout-his-presidency-was-a/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [I've always wanted to build a '37 Lincoln Zephyr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rawlings/i-ve-always-wanted-to-build-a-37-lincoln-zephyr/)

[Richard Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rawlings/)

> [Let's assume for the moment that the logic behind Presidents Day is actually sound for certain presidents. Why not have a separate holiday for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/let-s-assume-for-the-moment-that-the-logic-behind-presidents-day-is/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

> [“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/)

> [No president has come near to rivaling Lincoln as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/no-president-has-come-near-to-rivaling-lincoln-as-a-writer/)

[Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/)

> [“If Abraham Lincoln were alive now, he'd roll over in his grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-ford/if-abraham-lincoln-were-alive-now-he-d-roll-over-in-his-grave/)

[Gerald Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-ford/)

## More by Rick Atkinson

> [“To his brother Edgar he confided, “I suffer from the usual difficulty that besets the higher commander—things can be ordered and started, but actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/to-his-brother-edgar-he-confided-i-suffer-from-the-usual-difficulty/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“To make it perfectly clear to you: suppose you lose a hand or an ear is shot off, or perhaps a piece of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/to-make-it-perfectly-clear-to-you-suppose-you-lose-a-hand-or-an-ear/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“I could hear them yell and laugh each time and there was nothing I could do about it…. I saw them do it, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/i-could-hear-them-yell-and-laugh-each-time-and-there-was-nothing-i/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“The largest contingent of invaders—drawn from the U.S. 1st Infantry and 1st Armored divisions aboard thirty-four transport ships—would storm ashore at Beach Z near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/the-largest-contingent-of-invaders-drawn-from-the-u-s-1st-infantry/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [Global war is a clash of systems, not just battalions biffing one another in some godforsaken forest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/global-war-is-a-clash-of-systems-not-just-battalions-biffing-one/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“fifty-six, his hour had come round. He was a paradox and would always remain one, a great tangle of calculated mannerisms and raw, uncalculated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/fifty-six-his-hour-had-come-round-he-was-a-paradox-and-would-always/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“If U-boats torpedoed a transport during the Atlantic passage, how many destroyers should be left behind to pick up survivors? Hewitt was not certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/if-u-boats-torpedoed-a-transport-during-the-atlantic-passage-how-many/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [There were almost 11,000 American soldiers killed in Germany in April of 1945, the last full month of the war. That's almost as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/there-were-almost-11-000-american-soldiers-killed-in-germany-in-april/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“TWO hundred and thirty nautical miles southeast of Gibraltar, Oran perched above the sea, a splinter of Europe cast onto the African shore. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/two-hundred-and-thirty-nautical-miles-southeast-of-gibraltar-oran/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“blared “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” clearly audible on the hillcrest, where a lieutenant who was immune to the prevailing confidence of his seniors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/blared-the-stars-and-stripes-forever-clearly-audible-on-the-hillcrest/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“The troops also edged toward that timeless state common to veteran armies in which the men trusted no one less wretched than themselves. Still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/the-troops-also-edged-toward-that-timeless-state-common-to-veteran/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“In the first half of 1944, battle casualty rates for every 1,000 bomber crewmen serving six months in combat included 712 killed or missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/in-the-first-half-of-1944-battle-casualty-rates-for-every-1-000/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“In less than three years he would be the most celebrated American battle captain of the twentieth century, a man whose name—like those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/in-less-than-three-years-he-would-be-the-most-celebrated-american/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [“If you don’t succeed, I don’t want to see you alive,” he advised. “I see no point in surviving defeat, and I am sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/if-you-don-t-succeed-i-don-t-want-to-see-you-alive-he-advised-i-see/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

> [In searching for a rationale to go to war, Bush settled on the notion of Saddam as an incarnation of evil, basically, and convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/in-searching-for-a-rationale-to-go-to-war-bush-settled-on-the-notion/)

[Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

[Explore all 93 Rick Atkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/)

## More Lincoln quotes

> [“If Abraham Lincoln were alive now, he'd roll over in his grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-ford/if-abraham-lincoln-were-alive-now-he-d-roll-over-in-his-grave/)

[Gerald Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-ford/)

> [No president has come near to rivaling Lincoln as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/no-president-has-come-near-to-rivaling-lincoln-as-a-writer/)

[Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/)

> [“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/)

> [Let's assume for the moment that the logic behind Presidents Day is actually sound for certain presidents. Why not have a separate holiday for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/let-s-assume-for-the-moment-that-the-logic-behind-presidents-day-is/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

> [I've always wanted to build a '37 Lincoln Zephyr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rawlings/i-ve-always-wanted-to-build-a-37-lincoln-zephyr/)

[Richard Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rawlings/)

> [“And Lincoln, as would be evidenced throughout his presidency, was a master of timing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/and-lincoln-as-would-be-evidenced-throughout-his-presidency-was-a/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [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/)

> [The most important thing about Jazz at Lincoln Center is the fact that it's the first time that perhaps the most important art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/the-most-important-thing-about-jazz-at-lincoln-center-is-the-fact/)

[Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/)

> [“What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no-prayers-of-ours-can-arrest-the-decree/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“If I didn't have Lincoln's butt to stare at the whole time, motivation would be a lot harder to come by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shirvington/if-i-didn-t-have-lincoln-s-butt-to-stare-at-the-whole-time-motivation/)

[Jessica Shirvington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shirvington/)

> [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/)

> [What makes the Lincoln Memorial so powerful is that it doesn't try to do too much. In effect, it says that he saved the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-eisenhower/what-makes-the-lincoln-memorial-so-powerful-is-that-it-doesn-t-try-to/)

[Susan Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-eisenhower/)

> [“Most people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lickona/most-people-abraham-lincoln-said-are-about-as-happy-as-they-make-up/)

[Thomas Lickona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lickona/)

> [I received orders from Congress to proceed to Charleston in South Carolina, for the purpose of Co'operating with General Lincoln in the defense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-whipple/i-received-orders-from-congress-to-proceed-to-charleston-in-south/)

[Abraham Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-whipple/)

> [He raised his hands, not to strike, but in benediction. Lincoln was the grandest figure of the fiercest civil war. He is the gentlest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/he-raised-his-hands-not-to-strike-but-in-benediction-lincoln-was-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

[Browse all 492 Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lincoln/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Atkinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired-spot-that-can-t-be-got-at/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Lincoln"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired-spot-that-can-t-be-got-at/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/rick-atkinson-7144_lincoln_lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired_554995.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.” — Rick Atkinson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rick Atkinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired-spot-that-can-t-be-got-at/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/lincoln-had-inelegantly-called-the-tired-spot-that-can-t-be-got-at/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
