"The sense of obligation to continue is present in all of us.
duty to strive is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that
duty."

-- Abraham Lincoln


Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln.
If you want to learn about somebody who didn't quit, look no
Further.

Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his
Life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and
Suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times---but
He didn't and because he didn't quit, he became one of the
greatest presidents in the history of our country. Lincoln was a
Champion and he never gave up. Here is a sketch of Lincoln's road
to the White House...

1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to
support them.

1818 His mother died

1831 Failed in business

1832 Ran for state legislature - LOST.

1832 Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn't
get in.

1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business & by
the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years
of his life paying off this debt.

1834 Ran for state legislature again - WON

1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was
broken.

1836 Had a total nervous breakdown & was in bed for six months.

1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - DEFEATED


1840 Sought to become elector - DEFEATED

1843 Ran for Congress - LOST

1846 Ran for Congress again - this time he WON

1848 Ran for reelection to Congress - LOST

1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state. - REJECTED


1854 Ran for Senate of the United State - LOST

1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's
national convention - got less than 100 votes - LOST

1858 Ran for U. S. Senate again - LOST

1860 Elected president of the United States!


As you can see Mr. Lincoln never gave up, don't you!


The Gettysburg AddressGettysburg, PennsylvaniaNovember 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.