Every father wants his child to get the best education so that the child may
one day grow up to be a successful person.
But them, everybody has his own
perception of success.
In this letter to his son’s teacher,
Abraham Lincoln requests him to inculcate
in his boy the qualities that he feels
would be the best.
Read the letter and decide if you agree with Lincoln?
Dear Teacher,
HE WILL have to learn,
I know, that all men are
not just, all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there
is a hero;
that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
It will take time, I know; but teach him, if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value
than five pound. Teach him to learn to
lose and also to enjoy winning.
Steer him away from envy’ if you 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, and flowers
on a green hillside.
In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fall 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, and 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
that he hears on a screen of
truth, and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can, how
to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness.
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the
highest bidders, but never to put a price tag on his
heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he is 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 then he will always have sublime faith in
mankind.
This is
a big order, but see what you can do. He is such a fine
little fellow, my son!
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