Abraham Lincoln Center for Character Development
Learn from Lincoln,
live like Lincoln.
A resource center and national leader for character development, working to carry the qualities Lincoln practiced into individuals, families, schools and communities.
Abraham Lincoln famously exhibited many admirable character qualities which today are worthy of emulating. The ALCCD is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to being a resource center and national leader for character development initiatives, and to instilling those character values as modeled by Abraham Lincoln into individuals, families, schools and communities.
Lincoln is an exemplar and a model of virtue perhaps more than any person in world history other than religious figures. He holds a special place in our collective memory in part because of his great accomplishments, but more importantly because of certain character qualities so famously attributed to him.
But as great as he was, Lincoln was not born with these virtues. He honed and practiced and developed them daily, and so should we. He was far from a perfect individual: he possessed human flaws and made many mistakes in his life, as we all do. However, he learned from his mistakes and learned how to compensate for his own personal shortcomings. As W.E.B. Du Bois said of Lincoln in 1922: “I love him not because he was perfect but because he was not and yet triumphed.”
No matter who Abraham Lincoln met with, he believed to his core that all people deserved equal treatment. Through constant practice and diligent effort, even when he attained the high political position of president, he treated others he encountered with honesty, humility, courage, justice and grace.
Ten qualities
The character values the Center emphasizes.
01
Honesty
Striving to deal with individuals and situations fairly and with truth.
02
Empathy
Showing concern and attempting to understand the feelings of others.
03
Humility
Working for the betterment of others, and in the interest of others over self.
04
Civility
Showing politeness and respect to others, even those with whom you disagree.
05
Perseverance
Showing hope and determination in the face of defeat and loss.
06
Courage
Bravely standing for what is right in the face of opposition and personal fear.
07
Intellect
Continually learning all one can about the world around us.
08
Vision
Being governed by a firm set of principles and attainable ideas about the future.
09
Responsibility
Willingness to work hard and to do one’s duty as a citizen.
10
Leadership
Showing an ability to lead others in service, and with justice and fairness.
For educators
Lesson plans and activities
To assist educators, the Abraham Lincoln Center for Character Development has developed lesson plans and activities to foster greater character using the model of Abraham Lincoln.
The Center has also hosted programming with the museum, including the annual Lincoln Colloquium — the thirtieth of which, The Better Angels of Our Nature: the Influential Legacy & Character of Abraham Lincoln, drew nearly a hundred attendees.
In May 2018 the Center ran an all-day retreat for every fifth grader in Lincoln District 27, Be Excellent To Each Other, on building empathy and valuing others. Through games, small groups and presentations it took on bullying, teasing and exclusion, and asked students how they could live differently at home and at school — particularly toward those unlike themselves.
