Respected Teacher,
My Son 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 doller earned is of far more value than five found
Teach him to learn to lose and also 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 easiest to Lick
Teach him if you can, the wonder of books……….
But also give Quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on agreen hills - side
In school teach him it is far more honourable to fail 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 gentle people 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 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 Flight
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 important
Let him have the patience to brave
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind
This is a bid order; but see what you can do
He is such a fine little fellow, my son.
-Abraham Lincoln.
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage
by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them
What they could do for themselves.” -Abraham Lincoln
(Source: Freedom First, May 1989)