28/03/2021
Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher:
Today marks my son's first day in school.
He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for evry scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician there is a friend. Teach him that a dollar earned is of more value than five found. Teach him to learn to lose & also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy; if u can. Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books..but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky; bees in the sun & the flowers on a green hillside. In school teach him it's far honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with the gentle & tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good tat comes through. Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there's no shame in tears, teach him to scoff @ cynics & to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brawn & brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price-tag on his heart & soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob & to stand & fight if he thinks he's right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient..let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because only then will he have sublime faith in mankind. That's a big order, but see wat you can do. He is such a fine fellow, my son!
