....ponder!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S LETTER TO HIS SON'S TEACHER
He 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 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 to enjoy winning.

Steer him away from envy, if you can,

teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick...

Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...

But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,

bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him it is far 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 u 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's 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 be brave.

Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,

because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do...

He is such a fine fellow, my son!

........jus wanted to share this....... i spent the first 4 years of my high school life reading the letter (almost everyday)...............took me a while to get the message tho
twas in front of the principal's 'glass' office, some people may hav failed to read it
but noticing it was no option tho
cos almost everything was pasted on the glass doors......
stint reports.......comendation and problem lists
exam timetables
other important notices and the likes
besides other memorable things happened in the office n around it
.........being a boarding student i also went into the office to make calls....
....i still don't really know anything about the writer.....

....i still won't really go out of my way to learn about him but
there's a moral lesson in this post..........this is a lovely letter and i think its has a different message to everyone who reads it.