Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President: ”Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing"
Lincoln once shared a powerful lesson about determination with a young man hoping to become a lawyer
Long before Abraham Lincoln entered the White House, he faced a question familiar to anyone hoping to build a career without the advantages of wealth, connections or an established professional network.
How could someone pursue an ambitious goal when the conventional path appeared inaccessible? In November 1855, the future president addressed that dilemma in a letter to Isham Reavis , a young man seeking advice about becoming a lawyer.
Lincoln couldn't offer Reavis a place studying alongside him, explaining that his demanding schedule made it difficult to provide the necessary supervision. Instead, he encouraged the young man to take responsibility for his education.
"If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already," Lincoln wrote.
His letter concluded with a statement that would become one of his most frequently repeated observations about success.
Lincoln 's advice was rooted in personal experience rather than abstract philosophy.
Born in Kentucky in 1809, he grew up with limited access to formal education and never attended college or law school.
His entry into the legal profession came through independent reading, an approach that required considerable discipline at a time when aspiring lawyers commonly studied under experienced attorneys.
Lincoln explained to Reavis that the absence of a mentor or prestigious educational institution did not necessarily prevent someone from acquiring professional knowledge.
"I did not read with any one," he wrote. "Get the books, and read and study them till, you understand them in their principal features; and that is the main thing."
The message wasn't that education lacked importance. Lincoln was emphasizing that learning could take place outside established institutions when someone possessed the resources and determination to pursue it.
A consistent philosophy about hard work
The 1855 correspondence was not an isolated example of Lincoln offering practical advice to aspiring lawyers.
Three years later, he encouraged William H. Grigsby to study independently rather than become preoccupied with where he lived or whom he could study under.
His guidance was similarly direct in September 1860, when John M. Brockman requested advice about developing a comprehensive understanding of the law.
"The mode is very simple, though laborious, and tedious," Lincoln explained, recommending careful study of established legal texts. "Work, work, work, is the main thing."
Together, the letters reveal Lincoln 's consistent belief that meaningful progress depended on sustained effort rather than shortcuts or favorable circumstances alone.
Why Abraham Lincoln's advice remains relevant today
Lincoln eventually became the 16th president of the United States, leading the country through the Civil War and helping bring about the abolition of slavery.
His achievements cannot be explained solely through personal determination, and his advice does not mean that economic hardship or unequal access to opportunities are insignificant.
Nevertheless, the principle behind his words remains relevant to people pursuing education, professional advancement or difficult personal ambitions.
Lincoln 's central argument was that circumstances shouldn't automatically determine whether someone attempts to achieve a goal.
His advice to Reavis recognized something fundamental about progress: external support can make success easier, but individual commitment influences whether available opportunities are used.
More than 170 years later, the letter remains a reminder that determination is not a guarantee of achievement, but it can be the foundation on which achievement becomes possible.
