there are no accidents in my philosophy

(simon-pais)

honest abe. this, perhaps longer than gettysburg address.

reading a newsweek article about abraham lincoln and charles darwin. Sadly, most of my newsweek magazines are unread, and sprawled throughout the house, but there's always been a curiosity about Lincoln, as he is consistently ranked as one of the most successful presidents in american history, and, i've read, an unfailing favorite to past US presidents. I've hence become preoccupied with reading accounts and recollections of his character and disposition, his documented idiosyncrasies, and his tragedies- the death of three sons, the death of his mother, and the death of his first love. It is staggering that he survived three very close brushes with death, intermittent floods of depression, and failures as a farmer, a businessman, and endured the losses of various political candidacies. With only 18 months of formal education, he became our 16th president, and one of the greatest orator of our time, not to mention a slew of decisions that changed the course of US history- his perseverance which echos in its narrative. but what is really preoccupying and sobering is his will and inner strength and the ability to endure. the question of innate qualities or developed inner vigor. they say, "lincoln was a real person with real problems who still managed to do great things." its so rudimentary, and perhaps silly to say, but i feel deeply affected by this. the timing of this retrospective feels so appropriate to me, and i feel so immensely moved. 

feeling

melancholy