Last Monday we celebrated President’s Day. Most people look at the day as a tribute to all who have ever served in the office of the President.
Those of you as old as me will remember we used to honor only two presidential birthdays in February — George Washington on February 22 and Abraham Lincoln on February 16. Modern day President’s Day falls between those two birthdays.
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Yesterday was Lincoln’s birthday and Washington’s birthday will be Monday, I offer these Wednesday words of wisdom from both two presidents.
George Washington (1789-1797)
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.”
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
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Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
“A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones.”
–September 30, 1859 Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society
Both of these men have been described as virtuous. A word never used any more. Why?
Hadn’t thought about that, Jody, but you’re right. Maybe we don’t use virtuous to describe people anymore because there is so little virtue.