I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by my friends

O children of the future, hear the humble words of Abraham Lincoln, whose rise to greatness was not marked by grandiose claims or egotistical ambition. "I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by my friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like the old woman's dance." In these words, Lincoln speaks to the essence of true leadership—humility, simplicity, and a clear, direct approach to politics. His politics were not complex or burdened with lofty rhetoric; rather, they were grounded in the simplicity of truth and justice, designed to serve the people without pretension or artifice.

In the ancient world, the wise rulers understood that true leadership was not about making grand promises or weaving complex webs of political schemes. Socrates, the philosopher, when asked to explain his wisdom, often spoke in simple terms, relying not on elaborate speeches but on questions that revealed the truth of the world. His humility in teaching, much like Lincoln's, was rooted in the belief that truth is not something to be cloaked in complexity, but something that can be delivered in simple, clear strokes, accessible to all.

Consider also the great King Solomon, known for his wisdom in ruling the kingdom of Israel. When Solomon was faced with difficult choices, he sought not the grandiose or the complex, but the simple wisdom that would bring peace to his people. He understood that leadership requires humility—the ability to listen, to simplify, and to serve. His famous judgment in the case of the two women who claimed to be the mother of a child, in which he proposed to divide the baby in half, was not a scheme of complexity but a simple test of truth and compassion. Lincoln's words reflect a similar simplicity—politics rooted in justice, not in the desire for power.

Abraham Lincoln’s modesty and shortness of speech stand in stark contrast to the typical politician’s rhetoric, which often seeks to dazzle with complexity, to charm with grand promises. Yet, Lincoln's greatness lay in his ability to distill politics into a clear and direct message, one that called the nation to its higher principles. His politics, like the old woman’s dance, were simple, direct, and infused with the grace of truth and honor. He did not seek to impress with his words, but rather to inspire with his actions and character.

O children, let the humility of Abraham Lincoln guide you in all matters of leadership. Politics need not be a labyrinth of words and promises, but a dance of clarity, purpose, and justice. As Lincoln did, let us embrace simplicity and humility in our pursuit of what is right, serving not for personal glory, but for the common good. The greatest leaders in history, from Socrates to Lincoln, understood that true power is found in the truth, in the ability to serve with grace, and in the humility to know that even the simplest of actions can change the world. May we, too, be humble in our endeavors, knowing that politics, at its core, is not about complexity, but about serving the truth that resides within us all.