What did Shahan Shahnour mean?

Vahe H Apelian

Shahan Shahnour 

Today, Yeran Kouyoumjian, had posted French Armenian writer Shahan Shahnour’s well known quote from his well-known book, “Retreat Without Song”.  I copied the quote from Yeran Kouyounjian’s posting and I assume that it is the original quote in its entirety (see the quote below).  From memory I am under the definite impression that is the original quote in its entirety. She had posted the quote because today, February 25, is the birthday of General Antranig, in 1885.

The translation of the quote reads as follows: 

"The Armenian people has had four peaks in the course of its history: - SAINT MESROP, KOMITAS, CATHOLIC AND ANDRANIG. These greats always inspire us, embolden us, and give us renewed strength and resolve in our struggle for upholding and preserving what is Armenian. They are an unshakable refuge and bulwark against our despair.  They are a pure source for our thirst for Armenianness. They are a constant source of strife and struggle against our retreat. ZORAVAR ANDRANIK, with an amazing insight and exceptional political sense, foresaw the whole essence of the Armenian extermination politics of the Young Turks, and never once bowed to the Turks and to their deceptions. With his whole being, he became the INDOMITABLE COMMANDER and SOLDIER, THE TORCHBEARER and the CHAMPION of the Western Armenian cause and saw that THE KEY to the solution of the Armenian cause in the UNIFICATION of Western Armenians. PATRIOTISM was one of his messages: “when you lay your head on the pillow every day, think about what you did for Armenia and the Armenians”. His last words were: "I didn't care about my death, but my work that was left unfinished."

The other two of the four greats he cited are St. Mesrob Msahdots and Komitas Vartabed. They are well known for all Armenians.

But what did Shahnour  meant to say that the fourth peak for all the Armenians is the ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿԷ – CATHOLIC.

According to the Marriam-Webster Dictionary, catholic as a common noun means, “relating to, or forming the church universal.” It may also mean “of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it.”

Some have claimed that in singling out the CATHOLIC as the fourth peak in the Armenians history, Shahan Shahnour was alluding to the universal Armenian Christian Church that comprises the Armenian Apostolic, the Armenian Catholic, and the Armenian Evangelical church.

San Lazzaro Island, the Monastic Headquarters of Mekhitarists' Order

Others have claimed that in singling out CATHOLIC, Shahan Shahnour had the Mekhitarists, in his mind, simply because the four peaks he chose as the best the centuries old Armenian history has had, are individuals and in the case of the Mekhitarists a single entity..

I leave it to those who are more knowledgeable than I am about the contribution of the Mekhitarists as the unshakable refuge for the preservation and the perpetuation of what is Armenian. In the words of Shahan Shahnour “Վճիտ աղբիւր՝ հայկականութեան մեր ծարաւին դիմաց”, “a pure source for our thirst for Armeniannes.”

“'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”, said Churchill about the British Royal Air Force’s contribution for the preservation of England aginst the Nazi assault. As far as the perpetuation and preservation of the Armenian culture is concerned, I am inclined to believe that the same may be said to the Mekhitarist fathers, to whomt indeed, in the Armenian history we owe so much to the so few that is the Mekhitarist Order..

*****  

Բնագիրը: 

“«Հայ ժողովուրդը իր պատմութեան ընթացքին նուաճած է չորս գագաթներ.- Ս. ՄԵՍՐՈՊ, ԿՈՄԻՏԱՍ, ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿԷ ԵՒ ԱՆԴՐԱՆԻԿ»:  Այս մեծութիւնները տեւաբար կը ներշնչեն ու կը ոգեշնչեն մեզ, նոր ուժ ու կորով կը փոխանցեն մեզի՝ հայակերտումի եւ հայապահպանման, հայրենակերտումի եւ հայրենատիրական մեր պայքարին:  Աներեր ապաստան են անոնք՝ մեր յուսալքումին դիմաց:  Վճիտ աղբիւր՝ հայկականութեան մեր ծարաւին դիմաց:  Մաքառումի եւ պայքարի ոգիի մշտահոս աղբիւր՝ մեր նահանջականութեան դիմաց:  ԶՕՐԱՎԱՐ ԱՆԴՐԱՆԻԿ  զարմանալի յայտնատեսութեամբ, քաղաքական բացառիկ հոտառութեամբ նախատեսաւ երիտթուրքերու հայաջինջ քաղաքականութեան ողջ էութիւնը, ո՛չ մէկ ատեն գլուխ ծռեց թուրքին եւ անոր սադրանքներուն:  Ան իր ողջ էութեամբ դարձաւ արեմտահայութեան դատին ԱՆՆԿՈՒՆ ԶՕՐԱՎԱՐՆ ու ԶԻՆՈՒՈՐԸ, ՊԱՀԱՆՋԱՏԷՐՆ ու ՊԱՅՔԱՐՈՂԸ եւ արեւմտահայութեան ՄԻԱՒՈՐՄԱՆ մէջ տեսաւ Հայ Դատի լուծման ԲԱՆԱԼԻՆ:  Հայրենասիրութեան իր պատգամներէն էր. -Երբ գլուխդ բարձին կը դնես ամէն օր, մտածէ՛ թէ ի՞նչ ըրիր հայութեան ու հայրենիքին համար-: Իր վերջին խօսքը եղաւ. «Մահս չեմ հոգար, այլ գործս, որ կիսատ մնաց»։ 

A unique book: “House of Prayer”

 Vahe H Apelian

I recently purchased the said book – “House of Prayer” - from the Eastern Prelacy bookstore, thinking that it is a translation of another story from Hamasdegh. After all, he is known for his depiction of Armenian village life and its villagers. But I was altogether surprised when I realized that is not the case at all.

The book is bilingual and is translated by Dr. Vartan Matiossian and is edited by Iris Papazian with Deacon Shant Kazanjian valuable input. The book saw the light of day in honor of His Grace Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian’s election as the Prelate of the Eastern Apostolic Church of America in 2018. The translation and the publication of the book had been the desire of the new elected prelate. Hamasdegh has been his favorite author since his youth and Hamasdegh’s book Aghotaran – House of Prayer - has had a profound influence on him in appreciating the wonders of God’s creation.

This aspect of Hamasdegh had eluded me altogether, although I have read some of the books he is famous for such as “The Village”, “The Rain”, “The White Horseman. As a matter of fact, I have read many of the stories many times over. 

The “House of the Prayers” is a collection of prayers and contemplations of the wonders of God. All together the book is comprised twenty and two prayers. Hamasdegh has listed them alphabetically, Ա, Բ, Գ, Դ, Ե, Զ, Է - the famous seventh letter of the Armenian Alphabet we see it placed high on the altar of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Ը, Թ, and up to Ժ, the tenth letter. Reading through the tenth letter, I was wondering if Hamasdegh is mimicking St. Nerses Shnorhali's “Aravod Lousso” where a quadrant is written starting with each Armenian letter. However, I realized that Hamasdegh has opted to use the Armenian Alphabet as numerical designation. From the letter Ժ and on, the alphabetical numerical designations become compounded and cease to be the continuation of the Alphabetical listing. In the translation Roman numbers are used to list the twenty-two prayers. The last being,  ԻԲ in Armenian numerical alphabetical listing and XXII in Roman numeral listing, in the English translation.

It is fair that I glance over Hamasdegh’s biography to have a better perspective of the  book “House of Prayers”. 

Hamasdegh was born on November 26, 1895, in Elâzığ in Kharpert region, in Türkiye. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1913 to join his father. He started writing relatively early. In his autobiography he attributed his early foray into writing to his proximity to “Hairenik” where he published his first work in 1917 at the 22.

The following comprise his literary output and their first publication dates.

1. “The Village”, («Գիւղը»), published in Boston in 1924.

2. “Rain”, («Անձրեւ»), published in Paris in 1929.

3. “Holy Comedy”, («Սրբազան Կատակերգութիւն»), (not published)

4. “The White Horseman”, («Սպիտակ Ձիաւորը»), published in Los Angeles in 1953.

5.“Nazar the Brave and 13 Stories”, («Քաջ Նազար եւ 13 Պատմուածքներ»),(published in Cairo in 1955.

6. “House of Prayer”, (“Աղօթարան»), published in Beirut in 1957.

7. “Goat’s Almanac”, (“Այծետոմս»), published in Cairo in 1960.

8. “The First Love”, (“Առաջին Սէրը»), published in Beirut, in 1966.

Hamasdegh in Kessab

By 1928 Hamasdegh had become the darling of the Armenian youth and his reputation had gone across the Diaspora. He undertook a trip abroad in 1927/1928  where he visited Diaspora communities, including Kessab, as attested by the embedded picture, and was  very well received. After his return he never left the United States. It was a tumultuous era. The signing of the Treaty of Lousanne in July 1923, had dashed all hope for the Armenians, and maybe notably for the Kharpert native Armenian Americans in New England. They had resigned that they will never see their homeland again. Hamasdegh’s books became an outlet for them.

Hamasdegh died on November 26, 1966 (age 71 years), in California. He was widower when he died. In April 1, 1966, he wrote to his friend Simon Vratsian about the loss of his wife, and said: “Our beloved Srpouhie’s loss was very heavy. We were happy. Srpouhie emptied both the home and me.” In another letter to Vratsian, he wrote.”The days pass repetitiously; with no color and interest. It is said that sorrow seeks solitude. Our most graceful daughters attempt to fill in their mother’s void…Srpouhie raised fine daughters. However, there cannot be a remedy for Srpouhie’s absence.”  His penname was a composite of the initials of the three Gelenian brothers: Hamparstoum, Assadour, and Eghia

“House of Prayer”, (“Աղօթարան»), published in Beirut in 1957. It is among the three of his later books. It could be surmised that Hamasdegh was at the peak of his emotional maturity and as a seasoned writer. The heroes of his books, whom he depicted so well, were villagers who owed their living to their hard work, and to the nature’s or God’s bounty and were also at the their mercy. The titles of his popular books attest to that, “The village” and “The Rain”. 

Hamasdegh, Hampartsoum Gelenian

I will quote Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian to depict “House of Prayers”. He wrote. “It is difficult to characterize it, because in its simplicity, he deeply explores the essence of humanity”. Hamasdegh ended his fourth prayer thus: “Like the sheep grazing in mountains, and valleys, and returning to their flock in the dusk, my lost words come to me, Lord, when I want to sing the song of the bee, the sone of the deer, the song of the apple tree flower that extends its  branches to me from the fence, and I want to sing for you, Lord”.

As to the tile of the book, this is how the archbishop elaborates. The “House of Prayer” (Aghotaran) in the classical understanding is not merely a collection of prayers. The suffix “aran” (aghot-aran) in Armenian indicates place, for example, zhogov-aran (place where a meeting takes place), hanksd-aran (a place where one rests), tasaran (classroom), etc. In this sense, the “House of Prayer” is a place of prayer.”

A similar argument may be made that the suffix “aran” simply means collection. Such as “yerk (song)-aran” meaning “SongBook”, and Hamasdegh’s “Aghotk (prayer) - aran” meaning “PrayerBook”.

Interestingly, Hamasdegh’s daughter Loretta Gelenian, avoided the English translation and continued to sound her father’s title of the book “Aghotaran” and ended her foreword noting, “Finally, I am deeply grateful to Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian for republishing the Aghotaran and making it available for a new generation of readers.”

I reflected on the English transaction of the title simply to draw the interest of readers of my blog to purchase a copy of this unique book, and read it, especially  that is comes from Hamasdegh’s pen.

Indeed, it was foresightful of Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian to mark his election as the prelate by having sponsors and volunteers to have Hamasdegh's "Aghotaran" translated and published and, as Hamasdegh's daughter said, made the book available for a new generation of reader. 

 

 

 

 

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Defining Nation and State Հայրենիք եւ Պետութիւն

Vahe H Apelian – Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան

 

Կարելի է Հայերէնով կարդալ սեղմելով ARMENIAN, SELECT LANGUAGES լեզուներու ընտրութեան հարթակին մէջ։

 

I read Vahan Zanoyan’s article in this week’s “Keghart.com”, titled “Defining Nation and State.” He has quoted the following biblical verse:  ““For what will profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8, 36.

Similar sentiments but without biblical quote were reflected this week by Dikran Jinbashian, in “Horizon” Weekly. 

What Vahan Zanoyan and Dikran Jinbashian wrote reminded me of the patriotic song “Yerevan Erepouni” whose lyrics is written by Baruyr Sevag. I will quote a quadrant from the song in Armenian then resort to the extremely difficult task of translating it.

The actual quote reads:

Մենք արյան կանչեր ունենք մեր սրտում,

Անկատար տենչեր ունենք դեռ շատ:

Մեր կանչն առանց քեզ իզուր կկորչի,

Առանց քեզ մեր տաք տենչն էլ կսառչի:

I do not think there is an English word that truly conveys the meaning of the Armenian word “dench – տենչ»։ Instead of translating it myself, I let Google do the job. Google translated it as follows:

We have calls for blood in our hearts,

We still have many unaccomplished desires.

Our call will be lost without you,

Without you, our hot desire will also cool down.

Now, substitute Yerevan-Erepouni by the State of Armenia and you will pretty much get the idea the arguments Vahan Zanoyan and Dikran Jinbashian are  bringing forth. Much like Yerevan, the arguments they bring is that,the State of Armenia is the depository of our “denches”, our desires per Google translation. And without the State of Armenia, substituting for Yerevan, these very “denches”,  become endangered and will not long endure, so  the nation, forged through centuries,  will not long endure.

Surely, it is easy to have the quadrant as the lyrics of the famous patriotic song and relate to the sentiments expressed therein. The problem is framing that very soul in the charter of the State that will henceforth chart the course of the Republic of Armenia.

 The Armenian Declaration of Independence is not that long. Most of it is mundane. But the very few sentences, especially in the preamble, make the Armenian Declaration of Independence, the subject of the controversy that may tear the nation apart. 

In order to have a meaningful discussion on this important matter, I invite Vahan, Dikran or anyone else, to word their own versions of what the Armenian Declaration of Independence, the famous “Hrchagagir – Հռչակագիր”, Armenia’s charter should be.

We may then have real life meaningful discussion and exchange of views.

  

«Գարեգին վեհափառին վերջին օրը եւ վերջին օրերը» - 1/2

 Ընդօրինակած եմ Karekin I, "The Gift of Faith" գիրքէն։ Մեսրոպ Արք. Աշճեանին այս գրութիւնը պատմութեան սերտողութեան համար է։ Վրիպակները վերագրելի են իմ ընրօրինակութեանս, Վահէ Յ Աբէլեան։

Գարեգին Կաթողիկոս՝ Մեծն Տանն Կիլիկիոյ, Անթիլեաս (աջին)
Ամէնայն Հայոց, Էջմիածին 

«Ամենայն ինչ կատարեալ է»։

 Իր լրումին հասած է Գարեգին Կաթողիկոսին խաչի ողբերգութիւնը։ Թաղմանական արարողութիւներն իրենց աւարտին հասած են։ Լռած են սգոյ պաշտօնական արտայայտութիւնները, եւ Գարեգին վեհափառ այժմ կը հանգչի իր երջանկայիշատակ նախորդին Վազգէն Հայրապետի կողքին։ Սուրբ Էջմիածնայ գանգակատան ներքեւ։

Պատմութեան կը պատկանի այլեւս Գարեգին կաթողիկոսը։ Ան որ իր ողջ կեանքը գրեց պատմութեան զգացողութեամբ, գրեթէ պատմութեան համար ապրելով։ Ու հիմա ես ալ իր կեանքի պատմութեան ալիքներոււ անտես ովկեանոսին մէջ եմ, երբ, 8 Յուլիս գիշերուան մէջ, նստած եմ Մայր Տաճարի բակին մէջ, գրեթէ մինակ, առանձին։ Դժբախտաբար առանձին չեմ, ստուերներ կան այս ու այն կողմ, սպասումի մէջ են, կ՚երթան-կուգան, կը զրուցեն, անհանբերութեան նշաններ ցոյց կուտան։ Գիշերուան այս պահը՝ 12-էն քիչ մը յետոյ, անծանօթ չէ ինծի։ Շատ գիշերներ եղած են երբ, երկար զրուցէ մը յետոյ, հրաժեշտ առած եմ վեհափառէն եւ հանդարտ քայլերով վեհարանէն ուղղուած վանական իմ սենեակը։  Այդ օրերուն լուր էր Էջմիածնայ Տաճարը եւ հինգ գմբեթներէն ծորող լոյսի բեկորներ ինծի կու գային իբրեւ հայոց պատմութիւն, Հայոց Եկեղեւոյ դէմքեր։ Կը քալէի ու կը զգայի որ այնտեղ ինծի քայլակից էին մեր մեծերը... Լուսաւորիչ եւ Տրդաց կը զրուցեն նոր տաճարի կառուցման մասին։  Սուրբ Մեսրոպ եւ Սուրբ Սահակ կը ճեմեն։ Վահան Մամիկոնեանն է որ կը ծրագրէ վերանորոգել տաճարը, ու յետոյ տրտում դարեր,  լոյսի դարեր, Մովսէս Տաթեւացի, Յակոբ Ջուղայեցի, Ներսես Աշատարակեցի, Խրիմեան.... Ո՞վ չէ տողանցած այստեղէն ու չէ գրած հայոց պատմութեան մէկ էջը։

Հիմայ ուրիշ մարդիկ կան – հոգեւորականներ, Էջմիածնայ միաբաններ, Կիլիկիոյ Աթոռի ներկայացուցիչ հոգեւորականներ, պատահական ճամբորդներ, եկեր են ու կը սպասեն Կիլիկիոյ Արամ Կաթողիկոսին։

Արամ Վեհափառ, որ Էջմիածին կը գտնուէր Գարեգին Կաթողիկոսի թաղման համար, փափաքեր էր, Անթիլիաս վերադառնալէն առաջ անգամ մըն ալ խոնարհիլ Կիլիկիոյ Աթոռի վրայ իր նախորդին շիրիմին առջեւ։ 

Վերջապէս հասաւ։ Աղօթք , հոգեհանգիստ, հրաժեշտի խօսք։ Յանկարծ Արամ Ա. յայտարարեց, թէ Անթիլիասի Զարեհեան դամբարանէն պտղունց մը հող է բերած ցանելու համար Գարեգին  Կաթողիկոսի նորափոր գերեզմանին վրայ։ Կը ցանէ, ու խաչանիշ դրոշմով կ՚օրհնէ գերեզմանը։

Ապա կ՚ըսէ, «ես այժմ կը փափաքիմ որ բոլորս միասին».....նախադասութիւնը չի կրնար շարունակել, կը փղձկի, անակնկալ ի կը բերէ մեզ բոլորս։ Բայց կը հասկնանք թէ ի՞նչ  կ՚ուզէ Վեհափառը եւ բոլորի կուրծքերէն կը բարձրանայ երգը

Երբ որ բացուին դռնեն յուսոյ

Եւ մեր եկրէն փախ տայ ձմեռ

Երթամ ննջել իմ Կիլիկիա.....

Ու երգին հետ միասին կը զգամ որ աչքերէս  արցունքներ կը կայլակեն, այտերէս վար կ՚իջնեն տաք կաթիլներ որոնք յամառօրէն բացակայ էին յուղարկաւորութեան եւ թաղման օրերուն։ Շուրջիններս նոյնքան յուզուած են։ Ոմանք կը յիշեն Զարեհ Կաթողիկոսի ընտրութեան օրերը, ուրիշներ Գարեգին Հայր սուրբը, որ այնքան կաթոգին կերպով կ՚երգեր Ռուսինեանի «Կիլիկեա»-ն, որ քայերգ, մաղթերգ, ուխտերգ էր դառձած։

Հիմայ Գարեգին Վեհափառի շիրիմին վրայ է որ կ՚երգենք այդ երգը։ Քիչ մը գողունի, քիչ մը ի՞նչ ըսեմ։ Բայց ըսեմ՝ երանի թէ այդ երգը հնչէր թաղումէն յետոյ եւ Արամ Վեհափառը բոլորին ներկայութեան Կիլիկիոյ հողը խառնէր Էջմիայծնի հողին։ Չըրաւ, գուցէ յարմար պահ մը չգտաւ։  Բայց գիտեմ որ այդ մէկ հատիկ երգը Գարեգին կաթողիկոսի կեանքին ողբերգութեան պատկերն եղաւ, ի վերջոյ Կիլիկիոյ վերջասահման Քեսապի զաւակ էր Կիլիկիոյ դպրեվանքի լաւագոյն պտուղը, իբրեւ պերճաբան Հայրապետ կորովի առաջնորդ։ Յետոյ Հայաստանի անկախութեան ալիքները զինք բերին էջմիածին, դարձաւ Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոս։ Ինք իսկ գուցէ փորձեց մոռնալ Կիլիկիոյ կաթողիկոսի իր անցեալը, եւ շեշտել իր նոր Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսի դիմագծութիւնը. Բայց ամէն մարդ շարունակեց իր մէջ տեսնել «Կիլիկիոյ թեմի Կաթողիկոսը», եւ ինք չկրցաւ ինքզինք բաժնել իր անցեալէն։  Ափսոս որ ժամանակ չեղաւ  այդ գիշեր Արամ Վեհափառէն խնդրելու, որ, Զարեհեան դամբարանին մէջ, Անթիլիաս, փոքրիկ քար մը զետեղուի եւ յիշուի , որ Գարեգին Կաթողիկոս 18տարի Կիլիկիոյ Կաթողիկոս էր, թող քարի կտոր մը յիշէ զինք, Անթիլիասի մէջ, անգերեզման չմնայ։

Արդարեւ,1995 թ., երբ քիչ մը տարօրինակ պարագաններու նեքեւ Ամենայն Հայոց կաթողիկոս ընտրուեգաւ, խանդավարութիւնը մեծ էր, փայլուն էր յոյսը, բարձր  էին ակնակլութիւնները։ Բայց կեանքը ուրիշ բան ցոյց տուաւ։ Եւ այդ ներհուն հոգեւորականը, ճառագայթուն անձնաւորութիւնը տրտում վախճան մը ունեցաւ։ Անագորոյն ցաւ մը կրծեց եւ հալեզուց զինք։ Ոչ ոք գիտցաւ այդ ցաւը։ Քաղցկեղին հարուածը ուժգին էր, վէրքը բաց էր ու խոր։ Ամէն մարդ կը տեսնէր այդ վէրքը։ Բայց վեհափառը ուրիշ ցաւէ մեռաւ, ու տակաւին ոչ ոք գիտէ այդ ցաւը, վէրքի խորութիւնը։

Տակաւին շատ ալ կանուխ է վերլուծելու Գարեգին վեհափառի կեանքն որ անձնաւորութիւնը, հոգեբանութեան խոր ալիքները, բանալու էջերը իր հոգիին, եւ գիտնալու թէ Կիլիկիոյ բարձրունքներէն սրաթռիչ այդ արծիւը ինչպէ՞ս թառեցաւ Արարատի փէշերուն, եւ թէ ինչպէ՞ս  հակառակ բոլոր երազանքներու, արծիւը թեւաբեկ ինկաւ, եւ վաղահաս իր վախճանումով ինք իսկ սահմանափակեց իր տեղը Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ պատմութեան մէջ, ուր ճակատագրուած կը թուէր գրելու ոսկեղէն էջ մը։ Հիմա ստիպուած բադրատական մը կ՚ընենք իր երվոնախորդներէն Մատթէոս Իզմիրլեան Կաթողիկոսի, «երկաթեայ պատըրիարքին, եւ անոր ճակատագրին հետ։ Ան ալ մեծ հմայքով եկաւ Էջմիածին, բայց երկու տարի չանցա խորտակուեցաւ։

***

Հիմայ ալ չկայ ան, ու այդ վերջին օրուած տպաւորութեան տակ կ՚ուզեմ գրի առնել իր կեանքի վերջին օրերու պատմութիւնը։ Ինչ որ պիտի ըսեմ ենթակայական է անշուշտ, քանի որ իմ կապս ալ հոգելոյս Հայրապետին հեն ենթակայական էր, որ սկսած է իմ տղայ օրերուն, եւ տարօրինակ կերպով, նոյն այդ շաբթուան հայրս էի կորսնգուցած, ու 13 տարեկան էի։ Շատ հաւանաբար այս պարագան էր որ Գարեգին Կաթողիկոսը իմ մօտ ունեցաւ, միշտ ալ, հօր պատկերը՝ բայց ինք երիտասարդ հայր է, տարիքի մեծ տարբերութիւն չկար մեր միջեւ։ Այնուամենայնի այդ կապը մնազ, զօրացաւ, եղաւ անկեղծ, երբեմն բիրտ, բայց միշտ հարազատ։ ինք եղաւ նաեւ ինծի համար դաստիարակ, ուսուցիչ, տիպար։ Եւ ճետեւեցայ իրեն, իբրեւ համեստ աշակերտ, թէ իրբեւ տեսուչ դպրեվանուց, թր իբրեւ սռսջնորդ Իրանի եւ Ամերիկայի մէջ։ Ջերմ ջատագով ալ եղած էի Ամենայպն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսի իր ընտրութեան, թէեւ իմ վերջին քայլը ուշ առի եւ իր հետ միասին Էջմիածին չփութացի։ Մնացի Ամերիկա մինչեւ իմ պաշտօնիս լրումը։ Ինչ որ ինծի համար օրինապահութիւն էր, բայ իրեն համար անսպասելի օտարում։

***

         Յուլիս մէկն է։......         (յաջորդին)

 

Missak Manouchian: His last letter

Missak and Melinee Manouchian: Eternals at Pantheon

Yesterday, on Wednesday February 21, 2024, the French President Emmanuel Macron led a ceremony honouring Missak Manouchian, a stateless poet of Armenian origin who died fighting the Nazi occupation during World War II. Manouchian’s was inducted in the Panthéon mausoleum in Paris alongside other French national heroes. All total 81 persons, 75 men and 6 women, have been so honored. His induction is seen as a tribute to all the foreign fighters who joined the Resistance.

The attached is a copy of Missak Manouchian’s last letter to his wife.  The source is: Lettres des Fusillés, preface de Jacques Duclos, Editions Sociales, Paris. 1970. It was Translated: by Mitch Abidor. 

The link is attached below.

Turkish-born Armenian Missak Manouchian had written poetry and edited political and literary journals before the war. Head of the Armenian section of the FTP-MOI, he was promoted to chief of the Parisian unit in 1943. His is perhaps the most famous and beautiful of all final letters. It inspired the poet Louis Aragon to write a poem about the group, which was later set to music by Leo Ferré.

***

The letter:

 

“My dear Melinée, my beloved little orphan,

 

In a few hours I will no longer be of this world. We are going to be executed today at 3:00. This is happening to me like an accident in my life; I don’t believe it, but I nevertheless know that I will never see you again.

 

What can I write you? Everything inside me is confused, yet clear at the same time.

 

I joined the Army of Liberation as a volunteer, and I die within inches of Victory and the final goal. I wish for happiness for all those who will survive and taste the sweetness of the freedom and peace of tomorrow. I'm sure that the French people, and all those who fight for freedom, will know how to honor our memory with dignity. At the moment of death, I proclaim that I have no hatred for the German people, or for anyone at all; everyone will receive what he is due, as punishment and as reward. The German people, and all other people will leave in peace and brotherhood after the war, which will not last much longer. Happiness for all... I have one profound regret, and that’s of not having made you happy; I would so much have liked to have a child with you, as you always wished. So I'd absolutely like you to marry after the war, and, for my happiness, to have a child and, to fulfill my last wish, marry someone who will make you happy. All my goods and all my affairs, I leave them to you and to my nephews. After the war you can request your right to a war pension as my wife, for I die as a regular soldier in the French army of liberation.”

 

With the help of friends who'd like to honor me, you should publish my poems and writings that are worth being read. If possible, you should take my memory to my parents in Armenia. I will soon die with 23 of my comrades, with the courage and the serenity of a man with a peaceful conscience; for, personally, I've done no one ill, and if I have, it was without hatred. Today is sunny. It’s in looking at the sun and the beauties of nature that I loved so much that I will say farewell to life and to all of you, my beloved wife, and my beloved friends. I forgive all those who did me evil, or who wanted to do so, with the exception of he who betrayed us to redeem his skin, and those who sold us out. I ardently kiss you, as well as your sister and all those who know me, near and far; I hold you all against my heart. Farewell. Your friend, your comrade, your husband.

 

Manouchian Michel

 

P.S. I have 15,000 francs in the valise on the rue de Plaisance. If you can get it, pay off all my debts and give the rest to Arméne. MM

The link: 

https://www.marxists.org/history/france/resistance/manouchian/letters/manouchian.htm

Copy of the letter

 

“The Last Day and the Last Days of Catholicos Karekin” - 1 -

“The last day and the last days of Catholicos Karekin” is the poignant narration by Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian. The write-up was placed in the testimonial book about the archbishop. The book is titled “Living Faith, the Life & Service of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.” (see the link below). His narration about the life and death of Karekin I Catholicos of All Armenians is for history. Attached is my translation of the archbishop’s narration. Catholicos Karekin Sarkissian is the only Armenian supreme patriarch of the Apostolic Church that occupied two pontifical seats, that of Cilician Catholicosate in Antelias and in Etchmiadzin. Vahe H Apelian

"Everything is accomplished."

  The tragedy of the cross of Karekin Catholicos has come to its end. The funeral ceremonies have come to an end. The official expressions of mourning are over. The venerable Karekin now rests next to his predecessor of blessed memory Catholicos Vazken I of all Armenians, in Etchmiadzin church courtyard. 

Karekin Catholicos, the one who wrote his whole life with a sense of history and almost lived his whole life for history, belongs to history. Now, I am also thrown onto the ocean of the waves of his life’s history. On the night of July 8, I am sitting in the yard of the Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral, almost alone. Unfortunately, I am not by myself. There are shadowy figures here and there. They are waiting. They come and go. They whisper. They show signs of impatience. This moment of the night, a little after 12 midnight, is not unfamiliar hour for me. There have been many nights when, after a long conversation, I have taken leave of Catholicos Karekin and quietly walked from the monastery to my monk's room. In those days, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral was silent and the fragments of light that emanated from the five domes, symbolized to me our history. The fragments of light, portrayed the faces of the Armenian Church luminaries.  While walking, I felt that our elders were walking with me. Gregory the Illuminator and King Trdats were talking about the construction of the new Cathedral. Saint Mesrop and Saint Sahak wer taking a walk contemplating. Vahan Mamikonian was planning to renovate the cathedral. Then came bright and dark centuries of  Catholicos Movses Datevatsi, Hakob Jughayetsi, Nerses Ashataraketsi, Khrimian. Who has not threaded in Etchmiadzin and not written a page of Armenian history?

Now there are other people – clergymen from Echmiadzin. Others representing the Cilician See. There are also random travelers, who have come and are waiting for the Catholicos of Cilicia, Aram I.

Catholicos Aram Vehapar was in Etchmiadzin for the funeral of the Catholicos Karein I of All Armenians. Before returning to Antelias, Catholicos Aram wanted to bow once more in front of the grave of his predecessor on the Catholicosate Cilicia Throne.

Catholicos Aram I, finally arrived. Prayer, requiem, farewell speech was said. Catholicos Aram announced that he has brought soil from the Zarehian tomb in Antelias and wanted to sprinkle it on the newly dug grave of Catholicos Karekin. He spread the soil. Blessed the grave and anointed it with a sign of the cross.

Then he said, "and now I wish all of us together". But he could not finish the sentence and could not continue. He suddenly burst into tears. It took all of us by surprise. But we understood what Aram Vehapar wanted and the song rose from our chests.

“When the door for hopes will open,

And when winter will leave our country,

Our graceful Armenian country –“

I felt that tears were pouring from my eyes, as hot drops, down my  cheeks. They were stubbornly absent during the days of interment and burial. Those around me are just as moved. Some remember the days of the election of Catholicos Zareh. Others the Holy Father Catholicos Karekin, who sang Nahabed Rousinian's "Cilicia" in such a heartily manner. The song  had become a hymn, a march, an anthem.

We sang that song at the grave of Catholicos Karekin, a little bit subdued. What could I say? But let me say that I wished that we sang that song during the funeral and that Catholicos Aram mixed the Cilician soil with that of Etchmiadzin in the presence of everyone. But Catholicos Aram did not do so. Maybe he did not find a suitable moment for it. But I know that that single song became embodiement of the tragic  life of Catholicos Karekin. After all, he was the son of Kessab, the only Armenian border village of what once the Armenian Cilicia. Young Nshan Sarkissian was the most promising student of the seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. He became its most eloquent Patriarch. Then  came the waves of Armenia's independence that brought him to Etchmiadzin and he became the Catholicos of All Armenians. Perhaps he himself tried to forget his past as the Catholicos of Cilicia, and embrace his new role as the new Catholicos of All Armenians. But everyone continued to see in him the Catholicos of the Cilician See. He could not separate himself from his past. It is a pity that there was no time that night to ask Aram Vehapar to have a small stone placed in the Zarehian tomb in Antelias to remember that Karekin Catholicos of All Armenians, was also the Catholicos of Cilicia for 18 years.  Let there be a piece of stone to remember him in Antelias,and not leave him unburied there.

Indeed, in 1995, he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians under some strange circumstances. The enthusiasm was great. The hope was bright. The expectations were high. But life had something else in store for him. The erudite clergyman, the radiant personality, had a sad ending. A cruel and merciless pain gnawed him was emaciated his soul. No one knew that pain. The blow inflicted by the cancer was strong. The cancerous wound was open and deep. Everyone saw that wound. But the majestic soul died from other pains. To this day no one knows that pain and the depth of his other wound.

It is very early to analyze the life of Catholicos Karekin, his personality, the deep waves of his psychological make up; to open the pages of his soul, and to know how that the eagle who hovered over the heights of Cilicia, roosted on the slopes of Ararat, and how, contrary to all expectations, the eagle mortally tumbled down its wings clipped. With his premature death, Catholicos Karekin limited his place in the history of the Armenian Church, where he seemed, he was destined to write a golden page. I am forced to draw a parallel with one of his predecessors, Catholicos Mattheos Izmirlian, the "Iron Patriarch" and his fate. He also came to Etchmiadzin with great charm, but within two years, plummeted broken down.

***

Catholicos Karekin is no more. I want to write down the history of the last days of his life. Whatever I have to say is subjective. My relationship with the Holy Father was subjective that started from the days of my boyhood. Strangely, my father passed away that same week.  I was a 13 years old lad. Most likely, it was because of it that Catholicos Karekin always retained the image of a father to me. But he was a young father. There was not a big age difference between the two of us. Nevertheless, that connection remained, strengthened in time, became close, sometimes harsh, but always sincere. He also became a mentor, a teacher, a role model to me, and I followed him, as a humble student, as the principal of the seminary, as the prelate in Iran and lastly as the prelate in the United States of America. I was also an ardent supporter of his election as Catholicos of All Armenians, even though I took my last step to follow him late and did not move to Etchmiadzin together with him. I stayed in America until the end of my term. What was the dictate of my tenure, was an unexpected alienation for him.

To be continued....,

***

Link: Cilicia song by Stepan Frounjian

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/search?q=Cilicia+

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Link: “Living Faith, the Life & Service of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian"

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/02/archbishop-mesrob-ashjian-and-mughni.html

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Հաերէն բնագիրը

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2024/02/12.html

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115 Abraham Lincoln Quotes

 

1. "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." — Abraham Lincoln

 

2. "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." — Abraham Lincoln

 

3. "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." — Abraham Lincoln

 

4. “Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

5. “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

6. “Human action can be modified to some extent, but human nature cannot be changed.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

7. “Love is the chain to lock a child to its parent.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

8. “There are no bad pictures; that’s just how your face looks sometimes.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

9. “You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

10. “Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

11. “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

12. “Tact: the ability to describe others as they see themselves.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

13. “A farce or comedy is best played; a tragedy is best read at home.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

14. “Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

15. “For people who like that kind of a book that is the kind of book they will like.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

16. “I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

17. "I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow." — Abraham Lincoln

 

18. “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

19. “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

20. “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

21. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

22. “Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

23. “Adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you ever did. On the contrary, if you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

24. “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

25. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

26. “Every man’s happiness is his own responsibility.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

27. “If I am killed, I can die but once; but to live in constant dread of it, is to die over and over again.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

28. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

29. “I would rather be a little nobody, than to be an evil somebody.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

30. “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

31. “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other thing.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

32. “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

33. “I have a congenital aversion to failure.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

34.“I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father’s child has.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

35. “The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

36. “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

37. "And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts." — Abraham Lincoln

 

38. “Human nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak and as strong, as silly and as wise, as bad and as good.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

39. “What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.” — Abraham Lincoln

40. “Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

41. “I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

42. “I know not how to aid you, save in the assurance of one of mature age, and much severe experience, that you can not fail, if you resolutely determine, that you will not.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

43. “I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded, in this connection, of a story of an old Dutch farmer who remarked to a companion once that ‘it was not best to swap horses while crossing streams’.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

44. “I have stepped out upon this platform that I may see you and that you may see me, and in the arrangement I have the best of the bargain.”

 

45. “The demon of intemperance ever seems to have delighted in sucking the blood of genius and of generosity.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

46. “This is a world of compensations; and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

47. “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

48. “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free — honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

49. “You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

50. “The one victory we can ever call complete will be that one which proclaims that there is not one slave or one drunkard on the face of God’s green earth.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

51. “All I ask for the negro is that if you do not like him, let him alone. If God gave him but little, that little let him enjoy.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

52. "I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

53. “No man is good enough to govern another man, without that other’s consent. I say this is the leading principle–the sheet anchor of American republicanism.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

54. “It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

55. “Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

56. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

57. “I have never studied the art of paying compliments to women; but I must say that if all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the world in praise of women were applied to the women of America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during this war. I will close by saying, God bless the women of America!” — Abraham Lincoln

 

58. “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

59. “The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party – and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

60. “I care not for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

61. “Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

62. “The United States government must not undertake to run the Churches. When an individual, in the Church or out of it, becomes dangerous to the public interest he must be checked.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

63. “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable – a most sacred right – a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

64. “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

65. “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember it or overthrow it.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

66. “I desire to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

67. “Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

68. “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

69. “I cannot make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor colonization.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

70. “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser–in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

71. “The love of property and consciousness of right and wrong have conflicting places in our organization, which often makes a man’s course seem crooked, his conduct a riddle.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

72. “What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?” — Abraham Lincoln

 

73. “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

74. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

75. “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

76. “Property is the fruit of labor…property is desirable…is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

77. “I can make a General in five minutes but a good horse is hard to replace.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

78. “My father taught me to work, but not to love it. I never did like to work, and I don’t deny it. I’d rather read, tell stories, crack jokes, talk, laugh—anything but work.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

79. “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

80. “If we have no friends, we have no pleasure; and if we have them, we are sure to lose them, and be doubly pained by the loss.”

 

81. “I distrust the wisdom if not the sincerity of friends who would hold my hands while my enemies stab me.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

82. “I never encourage deceit, and falsehood, especially if you have got a bad memory, is the worst enemy a fellow can have. The fact is truth is your truest friend, no matter what the circumstances are.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

83. "I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down." — Abraham Lincoln

 

84. "Whatever you are, be a good one." — Abraham Lincoln

 

85. "I am a slow walker, but I never walk back." — Abraham Lincoln

 

86. "Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it." — Abraham Lincoln

 

87. "Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." — Abraham Lincoln

 

88. "I will prepare and someday my chance will come." — Abraham Lincoln

 

89. "I do the very best I know how–the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end." — Abraham Lincoln

 

90. "My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure." — Abraham Lincoln

91. "I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice." — Abraham Lincoln

 

92. "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." — Abraham Lincoln

 

93. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." — Abraham Lincoln

 

94. "I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." — Abraham Lincoln

 

95. "Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored." — Abraham Lincoln

 

96. "There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law." — Abraham Lincoln

 

97. "If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already." — Abraham Lincoln

 

98. “The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.” — Abraham Lincoln

 

99. "I expect to maintain this contest until successful, or till I die, or am conquered, or my term expires, or Congress or the country forsakes me...

A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the [yet] unsolved ones." — Abraham Lincoln

 

100. "The old general rule was that educated people did not perform manual labor. They managed to eat their bread, leaving the toil of producing it to the uneducated. This was not an insupportable evil to the working bees, so long as the class of drones remained very small. But now, especially in these free States, nearly all are educated--quite too nearly all, to leave the labor of the uneducated, in any wise adequate to the support of the whole. It follows from this that henceforth educated people must labor. Otherwise, education itself would become a positive and intolerable evil. No country can sustain, in idleness, more than a small percentage of its numbers. The great majority must labor at something productive." — Abraham Lincoln

 

101. "On the question of liberty, as a principle, we are not what we have been. When we were the political slaves of King George, and wanted to be free, we called the maxim that 'all men are created equal' a self evident truth; but now when we have grown fat, and have lost all dread of being slaves ourselves, we have become so greedy to be masters that we call the same maxim 'a self evident lie.'" — Abraham Lincoln

 

102. "Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere." — Abraham Lincoln

 

103. "Peace does not appear so distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; and so come as to be worth the keeping in all future time." — Abraham Lincoln

 

104. "I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free." — Abraham Lincoln

 

105. "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free -- honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best, hope of earth." — Abraham Lincoln

 

106. "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." — Abraham Lincoln

 

107. "The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing." — Abraham Lincoln

 

108. "In very truth he was, the noblest work of God—an honest man." — Abraham Lincoln

 

109. "I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him." — Abraham Lincoln

 

110. "Let no young man choosing the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief -- resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer." — Abraham Lincoln

 

111. "In law it is a good policy to never plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you can not." — Abraham Lincoln

 

112. "Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling." — Abraham Lincoln

 

113. "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." — Abraham Lincoln

 

114. "Passion has helped us; but can do so no more. It will in future be our enemy. Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense." — Abraham Lincoln

 

115. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” — Abraham Lincoln

The Link:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/115-abraham-lincolns-most-memorable-124354639.html