Power, Adversity, and the True Test of Character

Question and Thought for the Day February 13, 2025

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

Question of the Day:
If you could attend one historic event, what would you choose?

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Adversity builds resilience, no doubt. It forces us to adapt, endure, and, in some cases, transform. But Lincoln wasn’t talking about endurance—he was talking about exposure. Anyone can put on a good show when they’re struggling. It’s when people get power that you see who they really are.

Power strips away the excuses. When you have control—over decisions, resources, or people—there’s no one else to blame. No system holding you back. No obstacles to hide behind. It’s just you and your choices.

Think about the people who rise to the top, whether in politics, business, or even a small community. Some use power to serve, lifting others up. Others let it warp them, turning selfish, arrogant, or worse. The real test isn’t how someone handles hardship—it’s what they do when they don’t have to struggle anymore.

And that brings us to today’s question: If you could attend one historic event, what would you choose?

Would you sit in the crowd for Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, watching history unfold in real-time? Stand on the shore as the Wright brothers’ plane defied gravity? Witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence and see who really had conviction in the room? Perhaps an event even older, like Jesus appearing to the Apostles after his crucifixion.

History is full of moments where power shifted—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. And in each of those moments, the character of the people in charge determined everything that followed.

So here’s the real question: If you were handed power today, how would you handle it?