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 dollar earned is of far more value than five found
Teach him to learn to lose and also enjoy winning
Steer him away from envy,
Teach him if you can,
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 him quiet time,
to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.
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 band wagon…
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 fight,
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 impatient…
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, the 16th president of the united states of America (1861 –1865) is one of the world’s great statesmen for all time. Here is a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the head master of his school in which his son was studying, a letter so typical of the man who bore malice towards none and had charity for all.
