Part 3/15:
The example of Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address in 1861 illustrates this deeply. Lincoln’s call for unity, his "better angels of our nature," was met with a tragic disconnect—just a month later, the Civil War erupted, leaving over 600,000 Americans dead. His words of peace were drowned out by the passions fueling the conflict. This highlights how even the wisest leaders, burdened by the passions of their time, can be powerless to prevent tragedy once the passions reach a tipping point.