The fanatical antislavery people wished to hurry him into unwise, extreme, and premature action, and denounced him as compromising with the forces of evil, as being a practical politician—which he was, if practicality is held to include wisdom and high purpose.
Roosevelt, in "The Strenuous Life," defends Lincoln's pragmatic approach to politics, defining practicality as encompassing both wisdom and noble objectives.
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Character must show itself in the man's performance both of the duty he owes himself and of the duty he owes the State.
The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be cynic, or fop, or voluptuary.
Like all other good citizens, I accept the result with entire good humor and contentment.
We are bound in honor to strive to bring ever nearer the day when, as far as is humanly possible, we shall be able to realize the ideal that each man shall have an equal opportunity to show the stuff that is in him by the way in which he…
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