A. Lincoln's Almanack: The Mind of Lincoln, Man of Genius

By james pace

  This volume is full of facts concerning Lincoln's intellectual journey for self improvement. He started his life with nothing except a great need to know. The way Lincoln persued knowledge is as relevant today as it was in the 1800's. Lincoln was a man of thought.

• Language: English
• Publisher: james pace
• Release date: Jun 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215576762

Book preview

Early Years

Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin on February 12, 1809. Every school child knows this fact. The great wilderness of Kentucky during that time can only be imagined by a few. Only people of the greatest character could cope and survive the Kentucky of that period. We can only envision the hardships that Lincoln and his sister Sarah endured.

Lincoln in total had about one year of formal education. He was a lifelong self-learner and a reader getting what he needed from books. Lincoln's cousin Denise Hanks claimed he taught Abe the alphabet.

It is believed that his biological mother taught the boy how to memorize works of biblical literature. This act alone would strengthen his mind for intellectual vigor.  Lincoln read everything that was available to him and we could say he was a lifelong learner.

Abe attended blab schools in which the children recited their lessons aloud and the teachers made corrections as needed. The schools were small one room log cabin like structures that housed children of various ages and different levels of learning experiences. Parents had to pay to have their children attend those blab schools.

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The Bible was the textbook of choice during those times of academic study. The archaic and crude slate board was used to do all sorts of arithmetic problems. Penmanship taught the art of writing well. The children had to work in the fields during the planting

and harvest seasons so most of their formal academic learning took place in times of winter.

The blab schools Lincoln attended:

Andrew Crawford's

Azel Dorsey's

William Sweeney

During Lincoln's, life he read The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

The novel Robinson Crusoe was authored by Daniel Defoe and published 1719.

The tale is about an adventurous lad that went out to sea against the expressed wishes of both of his parents.  The young man saw the violence of the raging sea many times. There was one episode when his ship was consumed, and he was tossed to the shore being the only survivor. Crusoe decided after several years of existence on the island that he wanted to return to Mother England. He married and through that bond he produced three children.

After much thought and persuasion by others Crusoe decided to return to the old island. Once again seeking fame and fortune which he believed the great sea had to offer. It should be known that the sea was in his blood and she was calling for him to return.

Scott's Lessons in Elocution was written by William Scott born 1750 to 1804. Lincoln believed that this was one of the most comprehensive and complete volumes that he had the great pleasure of reading.

Part One: Lessons In Reading

57 Art of Thinking

Man's chief good is an upright mind, which no earthly power can bestow, nor take from him. We ought to distrust our passion even when they appear the most reasonable.

To say little and perform much, is the characteristic to a great mind.

Men commonly owe their virtue or their vice, to education as much as to nature.

Narrow minds think nothing right that is above their own capacity.

Those who are the most faulty, are the most prone to find fault in others.

Examine well the counsel that favors your desires. The gratification 

desire is sometimes the worst thing that can befall us.

95 Proper Employment of Time

Fly therefore from idleness as the certain parent both of guilt and ruin.

97 On Contentment 

On the contrary, foolish men are more apt to consider what they lost, than what they possess and to fix their eyes upon those who are richer than themselves, rather than on those who are under greater difficulties.

Aesop's Fables

Lincoln perfected his storytelling skills by his reading of Aesop's Fables:

The Gnat and the Bull

We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbor. The smaller.

Belling the Cat

It is one thing to say what should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

The Fox and the Grapes

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

The Plane Tree

Our best blessings are often the least appreciated.

The Owl and the Grasshopper

Flattery is not a proof of true admiration. Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.

The Oak and the Reed

Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.

The Crow and the Pitcher

In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out.

The Wild Boar and the Fox

Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace.

The Fox and the Crow

The Flatter lives at the expense of those who will listen to him.

The Ant and the Dove

A kindness is never wasted.

The Man and the Satyr

The man who talks from both sides is not to be trusted by either.

The Fisherman and the little Fish

A small gain is worth more than a large promise.

The Wolf and the Kid

Do not let anything turn you from your purpose.

The Eagle and the Jackdaw

Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers.

The Boy and the Filberts

Do not attempt too much at once.

Hercules and the Wagoner

Self- help is the best help. Heaven helps those who help themselves.

The Kid and the Wolf

Do not say anything at any time that you would not say at all times.

The Bundle of Sticks

In unity is strength.

The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf

Liars are not believed even when they speak the truth.

The Farmer and the Stork

You are judged by the company you keep.

The Hares and the Frogs

However unfortunate we may think we are there is always someone worst off than ourselves.

The Wolf and the Lion

What is evil won is evil lost.

The Fox and the Lion

Familiarity breeds contempt.

The Monkey and the Dolphin

One lie leads to another.

Aesop's Fables are an anthology of stories that have taught moral lessons to children that have covered many generations. They have provided a blue print for productive living throughout the ages. It is believed that the stories came from a Greek slave named Aesop. It is asserted that Aesop was a great storyteller and lived from 620 to 560 B.C. It should be noted that these stories have been told to children for more than five centuries. Instructions that can mold and shape any person into a well-rounded individual morally and mentally.

Noah Webster's Blue Backed Speller

There are many that believed that Lincoln studied Noah Webster's Blue Backed Speller. Webster believed all Americans should be educated from books that were authored by Americans for Americans. He wrote a three-volume set titled A Grammatical Institute of the English Language. The first volume was published in 1783 and it was a speller. The second volume was published in 1784 and it dealt with basic grammar. The final volume was published in 1785 it was a reader. The Speller was organized simply so that the contents could be easily understood by the children. The rules of spelling and pronunciation were provided as well as a list of words that the rules applied. It was called the Blue Backed Speller simply because the book covers were blue. The Speller caused the Spelling Bees to become popular all over the country.

Webster thought that difficult problems should be broken down into small manageable parts. The child should master each part before going to the next building a foundation in their knowledge set. Lincoln was second to none in mastering those basic intellectual skills. Lincoln put those skills to great advantage throughout his life.

Pilgrim's Progress

Pilgrim's Progress was written by John Bunyan in 1678 it was a Christian allegory. It should be noted that Bunyan was both a preacher and prolific writer he had more than sixty books that he published. Pilgrim's Progress is divided into two. Part One was finished in 1677 and Part Two was completed in 1679.  The star of the book is a Christian. The main character of the story came from the City of Destruction (life on earth) and was headed towards the Celestial City (heaven) which was called Mount Zion.

The other part of the story focused on Christian's wife, sons and maid's journey towards that heavenly city. In this life we can all say that we have had to face many hardships and difficulties that had the potential to brings us to the depths of darkness.

Lincoln faced life's hardships in a very productive way because he put all his experiences to good use. The hard days made him more sensitive to the plight of the downtrodden. The good days made Lincoln move in the direction of stewardship.

This English Classic that Lincoln read as a youth I believe inspired him to find a city that was above and beyond his city which we could call the city of despair. After reading that allegory he could place his hopes and dreams in a city not determined by human hands. A hope that a new day was coming full of promise and opportunities that would develop the full man. 

Life of Washington

Mr. Parson Weems was both a great book salesman and author of note. Weems was the first biographer of President Washington immediately after his death. The life of Washington was written in 1800 and it was very popular throughout the country with one and all. It was Weems who wrote the fictional account of Washington chopping down the Cherry Tree

The Life of Washington over time developed into a bestseller. It was a book of virtues that provided the youth of the period with moral instructions. The book would help the young people become productive citizens and guide them into a rich life full of great opportunities.

The book had to have inspired Lincoln to look beyond his present situation and develop into the man he dreamed