“There are no bad pictures, that’s just how your face looks sometimes.”
>
— Abraham Lincoln
We’ve all been there. Someone tags you in a photo and your first reaction is a mix of shock and horror. Your eyes are half-closed, your smile looks more like a grimace, and you wonder, “Do I really look like that?” According to this widely shared quote, the answer is a blunt and resounding yes. Attributed to the 16th U.S. President, this phrase has become a modern mantra for self-acceptance in the digital age.
However, there’s a fascinating twist to this piece of wisdom. Abraham Lincoln almost certainly never said it. The quote delivers a dose of radical honesty wrapped in humor. Furthermore, its journey across the internet reveals a lot about our contemporary anxieties and our desire for authenticity. Let’s explore the true meaning behind this powerful statement and why its questionable origin doesn’t diminish its impact.
The Honest Truth: Unpacking the Quote’s Message
At its core, the quote is a call to embrace imperfection. It directly confronts our obsession with capturing the “perfect” shot. In an era of filters, curated feeds, and endless retakes, this statement feels refreshingly direct. It suggests we stop fighting reality. Sometimes, a photograph simply captures a fleeting, unflattering moment. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean the picture is “bad,” nor does it mean you are unattractive.
This idea challenges the immense pressure we feel to present a flawless version of ourselves online. Social media often creates a highlight reel of life. Consequently, we compare our candid, everyday moments to someone else’s most polished images. The quote serves as a powerful reminder that authenticity includes the awkward and the unposed. It encourages us to laugh at ourselves and accept that not every angle is our best angle. Ultimately, the memory captured in the photo is far more important than achieving a picture-perfect look.
Did Lincoln Actually Say This?
The simple answer is no. There is no historical evidence whatsoever that Abraham Lincoln ever uttered or wrote these words. The language and sentiment are distinctly modern. Think about it: photography was a formal, cumbersome process in the 1860s. People sat still for long exposures. The concept of a casual, “bad” picture didn’t really exist in the same way it does today. Lincoln posed for serious, stoic portraits; he wasn’t scrolling through tagged photos on Facebook.
Experts and historians have thoroughly debunked this attribution. The quote likely originated on the internet, gaining traction on social media platforms like Tumblr and Twitter in the early 2010s. Attaching Lincoln’s name gave it a sense of historical weight and intellectual authority, making the humorous advice even more shareable. Source
Why We Love This Fake Quote
So, if it’s not a real Lincoln quote, why does it resonate so deeply with so many people? The answer lies in its perfect blend of humor and profound truth. The misattribution to a revered historical figure adds a layer of delightful absurdity. Imagining the solemn, top-hatted president saying something so relatable and sassy is inherently funny. This humor makes the message of self-acceptance easier to swallow.
Furthermore, the quote validates a universal human experience. Nearly everyone has felt the sting of seeing an unflattering photo. In fact, some studies show the lengths people go to for the perfect social media picture. One survey found that young adults often take numerous photos before choosing one to post. This pressure creates significant anxiety.
The quote acts as a counter-narrative to this perfectionism. It tells us to let go. It grants us permission to be human, to be imperfect, and to exist in photos without constant self-scrutiny. The message is more important than the messenger, even if the supposed messenger makes it funnier.