Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to His Son’s Teacher
1. Who wrote this letter and to whom is it addressed?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln wrote this letter to his son’s teacher.
2. What is the main purpose of Lincoln’s letter?
Answer: The purpose of the letter is to provide guidance on how his son should be educated and the important life lessons he should learn.
3. What does Lincoln want his son to learn about justice and truth?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to learn that not all men are just and true, but he should still be taught to believe in justice and truth.
4. Why does Lincoln say, “for every scoundrel, there is a hero”?
Answer: Lincoln means that while there are bad people in the world, there are also good people who do noble deeds, and his son should learn to recognize both.
5. What lesson does Lincoln want his son to learn about money?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to understand that a dollar earned through hard work is far more valuable than five pounds received without effort.
6. What does Lincoln teach about losing and winning?
Answer: Lincoln teaches that his son should learn to accept both loss and victory with grace.
7. Why does Lincoln ask the teacher to steer his son away from envy?
Answer: Lincoln believes envy is a destructive emotion, and he wants his son to learn the value of quiet laughter and contentment instead.
8. What does Lincoln say about bullies?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to learn that bullies are often the easiest to overcome, implying that confidence and courage can defeat aggression.
9. Why does Lincoln emphasize the importance of reading books?
Answer: Lincoln believes that reading books will instill wisdom and wonder in his son, helping him understand the world better.
10. What is Lincoln’s view on failure and cheating?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to learn that it is more honorable to fail than to cheat, emphasizing integrity.
11. What does Lincoln suggest about following the crowd?
Answer: Lincoln advises his son not to follow the crowd blindly and to have the strength to stand alone when necessary.
12. Why does Lincoln want his son to listen to everyone but filter what he hears?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to learn the ability to discern truth from falsehood, taking only the good from what he hears.
13. What does Lincoln want his son to learn about cynicism and sweetness?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to scoff at cynics, who mock idealism, and to be wary of those who are overly sweet or insincere.
14. What does Lincoln mean by “never put a price-tag on his heart and soul”?
Answer: Lincoln teaches that while it’s acceptable to sell one’s labor (brawn and brain), his son should never compromise his morals or integrity.
15. Why does Lincoln want his son to be able to stand against a “howling mob”?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to have the courage to stand up for what is right, even when faced with strong opposition.
16. What is the significance of the phrase “the test of fire makes fine steel”?
Answer: Lincoln believes that challenges and difficulties will strengthen his son’s character, just as fire hardens steel.
17. What does Lincoln mean by “sublime faith in himself”?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to have a deep and unwavering confidence in himself, which will lead to faith in mankind as a whole.
18. Why does Lincoln ask the teacher not to “cuddle” his son?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to grow strong and independent, suggesting that overprotectiveness might hinder his growth.
19. What life skill does Lincoln believe is important for handling sadness?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to learn how to laugh, even when he is sad, indicating the importance of resilience and finding joy in tough times.
20. Why does Lincoln want his son to appreciate nature, like “the eternal mystery of birds and flowers”?
Answer: Lincoln believes that spending time in nature will help his son reflect on the deeper mysteries of life and develop a sense of wonder.
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