Abraham Lincoln’s humility

Former US President Abraham Lincoln faced tremendous setbacks & struggled a lot before becoming President of USA. His fiancée died, twice failed in business, had a nervous breakdown, lost 8 times in elections but became the Greatest President Ever.

On his first day as President while giving his inaugural speech a wealthy aristocrat interrupted him. He said, “Mr. Lincoln, you shouldn’t forget that your father made shoes for my family." The aristocrat’s acerbic comment made some senates present laugh.

President Lincoln’s past impediments & struggle had made him a man of steel to tolerate such vitriolic comment. President Lincoln looked at that man & thanked him for reminding him of his humble origins. He said to him "Sir I know that my father made shoes for your family & many others present here because the way he made shoes nobody else could have made." He added that his father was a creator & he not just made shoes but poured his whole soul in it. He then questioned the aristocrat whether he had any complaint regarding those shoes. He then said “I know how to make shoes myself. If you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes. But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes. He was a great creator & genius with his work, & I am proud of my father".