Abraham Lincoln, response to a friend from Springfield asking how he liked being president, (c. 1861), in Emanuel Hertz, Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote (1939), p. 258–59.
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You have heard the story, haven't you, about the man who was tarred and feathered and carried out of town on a rail? A man in the crowd asked him how he liked it. His reply was that if it was not for the honor of the thing, he would much rather walk.
— Abraham Lincoln on President of the United States
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "You have heard the story, haven't you, about the man who was tarred and feathered and carried out of town on a rail? A man in the crowd asked him how he liked it. His reply was that if it was not for the honor of the thing, he would much rather walk." in the context of "Abraham Lincoln, response to a friend from Springfield asking how he liked being president, (c. 1861), in Emanuel Hertz, Lincoln Talks: A Biography in Anecdote (1939), p. 258–59." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "President of the United States" (Quotes, L)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed February 05, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer and politician, steered the United States through its most tumultuous period, the Civil War. His unwavering commitment to preserving the Union and abolishing slavery forever altered the course of American history and enshrined him as a champion of equality and justice.
About Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer and politician, steered the United States through its most tumultuous period, the Civil War. His unwavering commitment to preserving the Union and abolishing slavery forever altered the course of American history and enshrined him as a champion of equality and justice.
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