Abraham Lincoln failed many times, but many consider him the best US president that ever lived. He was president during the time of the Civil War, when many believed that the US would split apart and fall apart. Abe held the nation together. People who have lived through difficulties seem to be more able to keep going when things get tough, and achieve great success when others give up.
This is just a partial list of his failures.
| YEAR | FAILURES or SETBACKS | SUCCESSES |
| 1832 | Lost job Defeated for state legislature |
Elected company captain of Illinois militia in Black Hawk War |
| 1833 | Failed in business | Appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois Appointed deputy surveyor of Sangamon County |
| 1834 | Elected to Illinois state legislature | |
| 1835 | Sweetheart died | |
| 1836 | Had nervous breakdown | Re-elected to Illinois state legislature (running first in his district) Received license to practice law in Illinois state courts |
| 1837 | Led Whig delegation in moving Illinois state capital from Vandalia to Springfield Became law partner of John T. Stuart |
|
| 1838 | Defeated for Speaker | Nominated for Illinois House Speaker by Whig caucus Re-elected to Illinois House (running first in his district) Served as Whig floor leader |
| 1839 | Chosen presidential elector by first Whig convention Admitted to practice law in U.S. Circuit Court |
|
| 1840 | Argues first case before Illinois Supreme Court Re-elected to Illinois state legislature |
|
| 1841 | Established new law practice with Stephen T. Logan | |
| 1842 | Admitted to practice law in U.S. District Court | |
| 1843 | Defeated for nomination for Congress | |
| 1844 | Established own law practice with William H. Herndon as junior partner | |
| 1846 | Elected to Congress | |
| 1848 | Lost renomination | (Chose not to run for Congress, abiding by rule of rotation among Whigs.) |
| 1849 | Rejected for land officer | Admitted to practice law in U.S. Supreme Court Declined appointment as secretary and then as governor of Oregon Territory |
| 1854 | Defeated for U.S. Senate | Elected to Illinois state legislature (but declined seat to run for U.S. Senate) |
| 1856 | Defeated for nomination for Vice President | |
| 1858 | Again defeated for U.S. Senate | |
| 1860 | Elected President |
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/failures.htm
Ideas for success 
If Daniel Day Lewis portrayed him accurately, Abe Lincoln was a super-smart fella! 😀
My favorite Lincoln quote, ” All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
that’s sweet