Abraham Lincoln

“Work, Work, Work, is the Main Thing”

Posted on July 17, 2016 Updated on April 23, 2020

To John M. Brockman

J. M. Brockman, Esq Springfield, Ills. Sep. 25. 1860
Dear Sir: Yours of the 24th. asking “the best mode of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the law” is received. The mode is very simple, though laborious, and tedious. It is only to get the books, and read, and study them carefully. Begin with Blackstone’s Commentaries, and after reading it carefully through, say twice, take up Chitty’s Pleading, Greenleaf’s Evidence, & Story’s Equity &c. in succession. Work, work, work, is the main thing.

Yours very truly A.Lincoln

-Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 4.