在1863年美國內戰期間，南軍在蓋茨堡戰役中慘敗之後，羅伯特．李將軍（Robert E. Lee）率領受到重創的南軍撤回南方。但波多馬克河因暴雨而水位上漲，阻斷了他的退路。當時林肯總統敦促率領北軍的米德將軍（George Meade）發動進攻，予以痛擊。但米德將軍帶領的北軍和南軍一樣疲憊不堪，因此米德將軍選擇讓部隊休整。

在失望之餘，林肯總統提筆寫了一封信，他在信中坦言，米德沒有追擊李將軍的部隊，讓他萬分惱火。在信封上，這位總統親筆寫下這幾個字：「致米德將軍函，勿寄、勿署名。」事實上，這封信後來也確實未曾寄出。

早在林肯總統之前，另一位偉大的領袖所羅門王也深諳掌控情緒的重要性。不管發怒的理由有多麼合理，都具有強大的破壞力。正如所羅門問道：「你見言語急躁的人嗎？愚昧人比他更有指望」（箴言29章20節）。他深知「君王以公正使國堅立」，也明白「愚昧人把怒氣盡情發洩，智慧人卻抑制怒氣」（4、11節，新譯本）。

最終，多虧林肯總統沒寄出那封信，才沒讓他手下頂尖的將領喪失鬥志，也才能打贏這場至關重要的戰爭，並造福整個國家。讓我們也來學習他如此明智地自我克制。

Following the South’s catastrophic loss at Gettysburg in the American Civil War (1863), General Robert E. Lee led his battered troops back to Southern territory. Heavy rains flooded the Potomac River, blocking his retreat. President Abraham Lincoln urged General George Meade to attack. But Meade’s men were just as weary as Lee’s. He rested his troops.

Lincoln picked up his quill and wrote a letter in which he confessed he was “distressed immeasurably” at Meade’s reluctance to pursue Lee. On the envelope are these words in the president’s handwriting: “To Gen. Meade, never sent, or signed.” And indeed, it never was.  

Long before Lincoln, another great leader grasped the importance of reining in our emotions. Anger, no matter how justified, is a dangerously powerful force. “Do you see someone who speaks in haste?” King Solomon asked. “There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 29:20). Solomon knew that “by justice a king gives a country stability” (v. 4). He also understood that “fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end” (v. 11).

And in the end, not sending that letter prevented Lincoln from demoralizing his top general, helped win a necessary war, and contributed to the healing of a nation. We do well to learn from examples like his of wise restraint.