“I may walk slowly, but I never walk backwards.”
—Abraham Lincoln
This quote by Abraham Lincoln has echoed through generations as a statement of tenacity. Far from commenting on pace, it declared direction, principle, and moral resolve. For women in leadership, especially in systems not built for their rise, this sentiment remains grounding.
Mr. Lincoln’s leadership during some of America’s darkest hours was marked by an unshakeable sense of movement toward justice. No matter how steep or slow the climb, he persisted. Women leaders navigating today’s challenging professional landscape embody this same ethos. Their journey may not be swift, but it is forward.
Source: Association for Public Art
Patience Anchored in Purpose
Mr. Lincoln believed in gradual yet unwavering progress, applying this to both politics and personal growth. His communications carried a recurring theme: progress must be deliberate—ethical and resilient in the face of opposition. In his last public address (1865), he said, “We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.”
As Doris Kearns Goodwin notes in Team of Rivals, Mr. Lincoln’s strength as a leader came from his ability to stay the course, listen deeply, and act at the right time. Women leaders today, especially those breaking barriers in male-dominated fields, must adopt this same long-game mindset. Quick wins may be elusive, but purpose creates the backbone for steady progress.
Moving Forward in the Face of Systemic Headwinds
Much like Mr. Lincoln confronting a divided nation, women leaders contend with longstanding gaps in pay, representation, and authority. Terry Newell, in PA Times, notes that Mr. Lincoln’s worldview emphasized “moral courage,” a mindset modern women leaders share when rejecting outdated expectations. Moral courage, as Rush Kidder describes, means upholding principle despite personal risk.
Consider women of color in executive roles. They face compounded biases that stall advancement. Like Mr. Lincoln, they enter spaces resistant to change yet persist. Progress is often won inch by inch—not from lack of speed, but because the terrain is steep. Lincoln’s words become both comfort and call to action.
Embracing a Nonlinear Journey
Mr. Lincoln’s path to leadership was anything but linear. He failed in business, lost elections, and endured ridicule before becoming president. William Lee Miller explains in Lincoln’s Virtues: An Ethical Biography that Lincoln’s leadership arose not despite these setbacks but because of his reflective, resolute response.
Women leaders must internalize this lesson. The modern workplace still equates success with straight lines and rapid promotion, yet real leadership emerges from comebacks.
Women returning to the workforce after caregiving, switching industries mid-career, or launching initiatives in unsupportive ecosystems are walking forward—doing as Mr. Lincoln did, at their own pace.
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, Source: abc.net.au
The Role of Conviction in Leadership
Mr. Lincoln’s strength was his moral clarity. In his second inaugural address, he called for action “with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.” This clarity over comfort remains essential for modern leadership.
Many women leaders must navigate environments expecting them to adopt styles misaligned with their values. Yet those who succeed often do so by staying rooted in purpose rather than performing power.
Allen C. Guelzo emphasizes that Mr. Lincoln’s leadership rested on ethical seriousness. His unwavering principles earned him the name “Honest Abe.” He never moved quickly if haste compromised what was right. This same strength is evident in women leaders who choose authenticity over appeasement.
Community, Not Just Individual Grit
Lincoln was not a solitary figure. He surrounded himself with thought leaders who challenged him and helped him grow. Mentors like lawyer John Todd Stuart shaped his debating skills and courtroom style. The phrase “slow walker” spoke not to isolation but to deliberation within the community.
Women’s leadership also thrives in community. Whether through mentorship networks, sisterhood circles, or formal alliances, collective power sustains forward motion.
Lincoln’s lasting change was coordinated. Women, too, build power by walking together—breaking ceilings and paving the way for others.
What It Means to Lead
Mr. Lincoln led not just as a statesman but as a moral compass. In his “Notes for a Law Lecture,” Lincoln advised young lawyers to “resolve to be honest without being a lawyer.” His progress was rooted in principles, not popularity.
Modern leadership must expand beyond traditional molds. For many women, leadership means reshaping rigid hierarchies to reflect current realities—co-founding businesses with flexible cultures, leading movements, or innovating quietly. Like Lincoln, they listen, learn, and persist without abandoning their vision.
The Walk Is the Work
Mr. Lincoln’s words are more than personal discipline. They are a philosophy of progress that resonates deeply with women leaders today. Progress for women is rarely loud or linear. It is questioned, underestimated, or delayed. But like Mr. Lincoln’s approach to justice, it is consistent, quiet, and never retreats.
In a world that still asks women to justify their presence, walking forward—slowly but steadily—is leadership. It is also a legacy.
