"Lyceum Address" by Abraham Lincoln, List 4

Sandy (United States of America)
In an 1838 speech, 28-year-old Abraham Lincoln warned that individual and mob disrespect and disregard for US laws and courts would be the enemy from within that would destroy America. An ambitious leader, hungry for personal distinction, could arise to lead mobs fueled by passion—and not governed by reason—to cause America's downfall.

This list covers vocabulary from "We hope there is…"—"...frustrate his designs."

Here are links to our lists for the book: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. merit
    be worthy or deserving
    There are now, and will hereafter be, many causes, dangerous in their tendency, which have not existed heretofore; and which are not too insignificant to merit attention.
  2. celebrity
    the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
    Through that period, it was felt by all, to be an undecided experiment; now, it is understood to be a successful one.—Then, all that sought celebrity and fame, and distinction, expected to find them in the success of that experiment.
  3. distinction
    high status importance owing to marked superiority
    Through that period, it was felt by all, to be an undecided experiment; now, it is understood to be a successful one.—Then, all that sought celebrity and fame, and distinction, expected to find them in the success of that experiment.
  4. proposition
    a suggestion offered for acceptance or rejection
    Their ambition aspired to display before an admiring world, a practical demonstration of the truth of a proposition, which had hitherto been considered, at best no better, than problematical; namely, the capability of a people to govern themselves.
  5. immortalize
    make famous forever
    If they succeeded, they were to be immortalized; their names were to be transferred to counties and cities, and rivers and mountains; and to be revered and sung, and toasted through all time.
  6. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    If they failed, they were to be called knaves and fools, and fanatics for a fleeting hour; then to sink and be forgotten.
  7. gratification
    state of being satisfied
    It is to deny what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And, when they do, they will as naturally seek the gratification of their ruling passion, as others have so done before them.
  8. undertake
    enter upon an activity or enterprise
    Many great and good men sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found, whose ambition would inspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion, or the tribe of the eagle.
  9. gubernatorial
    relating to the head of a state government
    Many great and good men sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found, whose ambition would inspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion, or the tribe of the eagle.
  10. illustrious
    widely known and esteemed
    Towering genius distains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored....It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction; and, if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving freemen.
  11. emancipate
    free from slavery or servitude
    Towering genius distains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored....It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction; and, if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving freemen.
  12. utmost
    of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
    Is it unreasonable then to expect, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us?
Created on Wed Apr 29 20:15:36 EDT 2026 (updated Thu Apr 30 14:59:27 EDT 2026)

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