What are the motifs in With Malice Toward None: The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates?

Mortality is a recurring idea in the book. Lincoln was obsessed with death from an early age. He was not particularly religious, though he lived in a society where religion was the cornerstone of most communities. Lincoln was confronted with death at an early age when his mother died, and would ponder the mystery long hours, often going into a trance-like state. This constant rumination on death may have spurred Lincoln to stick to his personal and political beliefs: he understood how quickly life could be taken, and he wanted to live the best he could, while he could. He didn't want to compromise a moment of his precious time on earth.