nothing new under the sun

I’m done reading the book about Lincoln, finally.  One thing Lincoln said early in his political career was that the founding fathers had done great things and created a country full of liberty — and that there was nothing left for the rest of people of his generation to accomplish.  Not that the men of his generation didn’t have the capacity to be great, but there was nothing left to do (or so he thought). 

There is nothing new under the sun.  No one particular thing that Lincoln did was outstandingly original - he worked well with others, he put aside animosity in favor of the higher good, he was humble.  Anyone else could have done (and had done) all of those things, but it was all in the way he applied it.  I think it is likely that had Lincoln not been around, we would still have had a war, the North still would have won, and slavery would be unconstitutional.    It just would not have been done so memorably, or indeed so well. 

And as much as we think everything has been invented, or accomplished, or done, there is always something around the corner that will bring out the greatness in great people.

Posted by Marie on February 20th, 2007 under Uncategorized


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