Because it's March 7 / Letter of All Time, Abraham Lincoln writes to his son's teacher

186 years ago, precisely in 1830, the 16th President of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln addressed his son's teacher with a letter. Today is the first day of school and this letter is worth a read again, at least by parents and teachers.

Dear Teacher,

My son starts school today.

After a while, everything will be weird and new, so I'd like to treat it gently.

It is an adventure that he will take with him across all continents.

Such adventures that could possibly involve wars, tragedies, and disasters. To live this life, you need faith, love and courage.

For that, dear Teacher, I would beg you to take it and teach him things he would need to know, teach him - but gently, if you can.

Learn that for every enemy, there is a friend.

He will have to learn that not all people are righteous, that not all people are sincere.

However, teach them that there is a hero for every scoundrel and that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Find out if you can get 10 cents worth more than a dollar found. At school, teachers, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.

Teach him how to lose gracefully, and how to enjoy victory when he wins.

Learn to be kind to good people and tough to tough people. Try to stay as far away from envy as you can, and learn the secret of a genuine smile.

Learn it if possible - like laughing when sad, and shedding tears is no shame at all.

Learn that there can be honest failure and embarrassing victory.

Learn to ridicule the cynics. Teach it, if you can, to discover the wonder of reading books, but also give it enough time to counter the eternal mystery of flying birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to trust his ideas even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Try to teach my son the strength not to follow the crowd even when everyone is running after the victor. Teach them to listen attentively to everyone, but also to sift through all that they hear in the sieve of truth and take away the good. Teach him how to sell his talent and ingenuity to the highest bidder, but never accept any price for his soul and heart. Allow this courage to be unbearable. Allow this patience to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, for then he will always have sublime faith in humanity and God. These are requirements, teachers, but you do the best you can. He is a good little kid. And he is my son. "

Sincerely, Abraham Lincoln