09/08/2026
Long before he became one of the most respected leaders in American history, his life read like a long list of defeats.
He failed in business and lost everything. He ran for state legislature — and lost. He tried business again — it failed too, leaving him in debt for years.
He ran for Congress. He lost.
He applied for a land officer job. Rejected.
He ran for the Senate — not once, but twice — and lost both times.
Along the way, he also endured deep personal loss, including the death of his mother, his sister, and later his own children, while battling long periods of depression that he was open about even in an era when almost no one spoke of it.
Any one of these setbacks might have convinced someone to give up entirely.
He kept running. He kept serving where he could. He kept believing that his moment simply hadn't arrived yet.
In 1860, decades after his first failed campaign, he was elected President of the United States — and went on to lead the nation through its darkest chapter, ultimately working to end slavery and hold the country together.
His story isn't about never failing.
It's about refusing to let failure be the last chapter.
