Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, February 5, 1865. The weariness in the portrait reveals how much the overwork and anxiety of four years war had cost Lincoln.
































He likes to describe himself as an ordinary man who made the most of himself. As a young man, he was anything but refined. But all that changed with the time, and the beauty of the Lincoln story is watching him grow in depth of his character. Lincoln became a genuine hero, something greater than being rich, famous, or powerful. His heroism involved sacrifice, generosity, bravery, and a vision that would transform America. He recognized the great power of words, which can produce light in the most unlikely places. The words of the Declaration of Independence, written by a man he considered his spiritual father – Thomas Jefferson, defined Lincoln, stirred him, and helped make him who he was. He gradually became a master of words himself. In fact, no American President has ever used words more effectively. Years later, when he was invited to the dedication of the military cemetery at Gettysburg, he included an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence in his famous address when he reaffirmed that all men are created equal.