Law Office of Francis J. McDonough, Jr., PLLC

In his early years practicing law, Abraham Lincoln often had to travel across Illinois in all kinds of weather to get to a trial. One bitter winter day, Lincoln rode into town where court was to be held. When he checked into the inn next to the courthouse, he found the fireplace in the sitting room surrounded by all the other lawyers in town discussing their cases.

"Cold out there, eh?' remarked one of the lawyers.

"Colder than hell," agreed Lincoln.

"You've been there too, Lincoln?" asked another.

"Yup," Lincoln said with a smile, "and it's just like here - all the lawyers are standing right next to the fire."

"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbor to compromise whenever you can."

Abraham Lincoln

Credit: The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln, A Treasury of Quotations, Anecdotes and Observations, James C. Humes, Beckon Books, 1996