Abraham Lincoln once stated, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” One important term in Lincoln’s statement is adversity, which means a case or situation of major or extended hardship or misfortune. Another significant term in Lincoln’s statement is character, which means the fundamental complex of attributes that determine a person's moral and ethical actions and reactions. Taken entirely, Abraham Lincoln suggests in his statement that having power is not always a good thing. Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln implies in his statement that power can make a kind and good person strong so that they can stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves but it can also make a dishonest person corrupt and greedy. Finally, when looked through the view of William Shakespeare‘s tragedy Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln’s statement can be proven true within Shakespeare’s development of conflict between Antony and Brutus and Antony and Octavius. Firstly, Shakespeare’s developing conflict between Antony and Brutus demonstrates that Lincoln’s declaration is accurate. For example, while in the Senate building after Julius Caesar’s death Antony pretends to side with the conspirators to get Brutus to trust him so that he can give a funeral speech for …show more content…
By doing so, this contributes to prove that Abraham Lincoln’s statement is true. What must be taken away from this today is that power can change people and not always for the better. For example, during presidential elections, some presidential candidates may promise a lot of things to their supporters that make them sound like the perfect choice for president but then once they become president and gain all the power their true self comes out, and they don’t keep all the promises they
Being in a position of power, like Lincoln you vow to follow the US constitution. Taking that vow left Lincoln in a rough spot. He disliked slavery but he could not act on his own beliefs. Lincoln was left to follow the steps to make a stand and do the right thing. He managed to stop and put an end to slavery but that came with time.
From the moment Abraham Lincoln was candidate for his second presidential election, he had to accept current situation of the United States was on the way preparing for a Civil War. Once the mentality of the people was ready, the weapon was on their hands, and the gun battered to face a war that could happen any minute. Even though Lincoln was in charge as a leader of a country, then he could not do anything which was beyond his ability to reach. By manipulating his intelligent and brilliant words, Lincoln tried to convey the message of war should not have happened, and to analyze the disadvantages of this meaningless war. He sedately said, “And the war came.”
He states, “You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to “preserve, protect, and defend it”’ (3). In this quote, Lincoln does not reveal his personal point of view on slavery, rather than his public one as president. This is significant because it keeps him in a state of neutrality that is necessary to keep the country united.
When somebody has power, it is interesting to see what kind of person they are, how they look, and how they manage themselves. Nathaniel Hawthorne got the opportunity to meet the president in 1862 as a working class voter with the Massachusetts manufacturers. The president, Abraham Lincoln, made an impact on Hawthorne and resulted in this passage. The careful analyzation of the president by Hawthorne reveals his thoughts about the President. Nathaniel Hawthorne used various rhetorical strategies to portray his views of the president.
President Lincoln finally concluded, “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” (Second Inaugural Address). To explain, Lincoln means that the nation, under God, should reunite as one nation and become the United States not becoming enemies. He also means that God is guiding this nation right now and the nation must be together and not be broken. This means that in order to change, the nation, both sides must be united as one, must strive by giving freedom to everyone that way they can be a unify their nation again. Lincoln’s final decision for going to war was to reunite the nation as one so that everyone can have freedom, meaning that slavery will end, and saving/protecting the
It is important to recognize Lincoln’s role here. Lincoln, understanding he faced a divided country with cracks forming in its patriotic foundation, stood as a voice of reason to bridge the divide. He was an arbitrator to bring reason into a realm that was dominated by combative strife. This was why he presented himself as an understanding
By comparing the two Lincoln is saying that the founding fathers created a solid political system. However, he is also saying that it does not work because not everyone is respecting it. By saying this Lincoln emphasizes the fact that the Founding Fathers have created a good system and that it is the people who are beginning to destroy it. Without this metaphor the way Lincoln felt about the founding fathers would not have been as clear.
Lincoln essay In president Lincoln’s inaugural address, he uses many rhetorical strategies and devices to convey his message regarding his “high hope for the future.” specifically he explains that the civil war was detrimental, but we must “pray that this might scourge of war may speedily pass away.” Furthermore he is ready to start anew and is very optimistic about what the future holds. Lincoln mentions, “both read the same bible and pray to the same God,” meaning that they should not ask a just God’s assistance in anything.
The North and the South were battling over slavery. Many people lost their lives and this was one of our country’s lowest times. However Abraham Lincoln does a very good job of trying to resolve this conflict. He writes a famous speech and explains that it is useless for Americans to kill Americans in his best efforts to help this conflict. Lincoln uses repetition when describing the things that we can not allow happen in our country.
For example, on his vision to end slavery and foster freedom and equality, he signed the Abolition Act, issued the Emancipation Proclamation and pushed for the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment in the house. He also kept his potential rivals like McLean close, and sought their advice but still retained his autonomy in critical decisions regarding the nation. Moreover, he was also a great orator and some of his sayings are still cited to date. Lincoln was neither timid nor naturally cautious and took great risks, which eventually led to his assassination by the sympathizer of the south who felt offended by President’s broad anti-slavery and equality policies and actions. Though, resented by a few, Abraham Lincoln had earned his fully deserved reputation, ‘as the greatest president in the U.S history’.
When analyzing Abraham Lincoln’s early presidential speeches, his objective to preserve the Union becomes quite apparent. However, we must not overlook Lincoln’s devotion to equality as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Examining the Address at Independence Hall and the Gettysburg Address reveals Lincoln’s dedication to upholding the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. In reading Lincoln’s early presidential speeches, many view Lincoln’s motivation for abolishing slavery solely as a measure imperative to preserving the Union. However, his intentions run deeper than war-time necessity in that he possesses a profound reverence for the Declaration of Independence and its ideals of equality, that, although not always explicitly
By appealing to reason, he wants to describe how “all dreaded it, all sought to avert it,” so why not use their united power to get a compromise and work out the big triggering social problem, slavery. In addition, this quotation also is important due to Lincoln’s approach of “no accusations.” By including “all,” he wants to emphasize that they are “all” in it together. Later, Lincoln uses chiasmus (inversion of words in a recognizable repetitive way) with, “let us judge not, that we be not judged.” This inverted diction is to emphasize God’s change in mind, the switch from letting
Are you so loyal to someone or something that you are willing to devote most of your time to that one person or thing? How much would you sacrifice for that one person or thing? In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare the two star-crossed lovers are loyal to each other but are they too loyal? Loyalty can be both good and bad.
Abraham Lincoln’s quote.. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”. I agree with this quote because all mankind go through at least one form of adversity and misfortune. But judging by the attitude, personality, and character of the man after or during his adversity… how would the man change in his behavior if he got hold of power?. That is how you test a man's character. I personally dont recall of having any situation in my life like this
Julius Caesar Essay Betrayal can be defined as breaking the bond of trust in any type of relationship, and deceiving others. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, betrayal can be seen throughout the play, done to and by many of the characters. Many of the reasons why betrayal is shown in the play are all for a similar reasons- Ambition / greed. The theme of Julius Caesar is that people betray others because of ambition and greed.