Lincoln called schadenfreude ‘a fatal error’

I’m starting a new category: Lincoln. For two reasons. Because I’m obsessed. And because I believe that Lincoln would absolutely share my views on the Middle East and the American interest. I’ll get to that later. For now, here is Lincoln writing to his friend William Herndon, when Herndon was 29 and Lincoln 39. Lincoln was a congressman and had experienced a great deal of disappointment in life. Herndon was a lawyer and abolitionist back in Springfield, Illinois. Evidently he had complained to Lincoln of being pushed down by more successful people.

I was young once, and I am sure I was never ungenerously thrust back. I hardly know what to say. The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself every way he can, never suspecting that any body wishes to hinder him. Allow me to assure you that suspicion and jealousy never did help any man in any situation. There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury. Cast about, and see if this feeling has not injured every person you have ever known to fall into it.

Now, in what I have said, I am sure you will suspect nothing but sincere friendship. I would save you from a fatal error. You have been a laborious, studious young man…You cannot fail in any laudable object, unless you allow your mind to be improperly directed. I have some the advantage of you in the world’s experience, merely by being older; and it is this that induces me to advise.

Lincoln called schadenfreude ‘a fatal error’

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