Abraham Lincoln

“This Blade at the Point Travels Rapidly”

Posted on September 28, 2015 Updated on April 20, 2020

I used to grow restless at Lincoln’s slow movements and speeches in court. “Speak with more vim,” I would frequently say, “and arouse the jury-talk faster and keep them awake.” In answer to such a suggestion he one day made use of this illustration: “Give me your little pen-knife, with its short blade, and hand me that old jack-knife, lying on the table.” Opening the blade of the pen-knife he said: “You see, this blade at the point travels rapidly, but only through a small portion of space till it stops; while the long blade of the jack-knife moves no faster but through a much greater space than the small one. Just so with the long, labored movements of my mind. I may not emit ideas as rapidly as others, because I am compelled by nature to speak slowly, but when I do throw off a thought it seems to me, though it comes with some effort, it has force enough to cut its own way and travel a greater distance.” This was said to me when we were alone in our office simply for illustration. It was not said boastingly.

By William H. Herndon，Jesse W. Weik “Herndon’s Lincoln: A True Story of a Great Life” , P339  Herndon-332-203-11