source: [[125.014 Books - Abraham Lincoln - Team of Rivals]] tags: relevant:
- [[107.014.03 Stoic virtues - 3. Courage]]
- [[116.015 Life Lessons - Don't wait for anybody. Just do your thing. They will understand.]]
- [[116.024 Life Lessons - Passion and drive is the only thing that sets you apart from other entrepreneurs]]
- [[116.040 Life Lessons - You make your life what you want it to be]]
- [[116.098 Life Lessons - Distinguish between what I feel and what I think others feel]]
- [[116.121 Life Lessons - Be like Honest Abe and be honest to yourself no matter the cost]]
- [[119.032 NVC - Do not imply judgement]]
- [[131.007 Leadership - Blame yourself or blame no one]]
- [[131.009 Leadership - Lift others up even at cost to yourself]]
- [[131.010 Leadership - Do what should be done, not what can be done]]
John Brown was an abolitionist who, among other things, attempted to incite a slave revolt at Harpers Ferry. He was caught and executed for it. After his trial and death sentence, but before it was carried out, his letters are pure Socrates. And like Socrates, he became a martyr for his cause:
"I am waiting the hour of my public murder with great composure of mind, & cheerfulness, feeling the strongest assurance that in no other possible way could I be used to so much advance the cause of God; & of humanity."
His virtue, which lives on in infamy long after his death, was a direct result of his purpose, which he maintained even in the face of public death. Knowing that he was serving his highest and best purpose with conviction and bravery... amazing.