"Some folks think I painted Lincoln from life, but I haven't been around that long. Not quite"

Norman Rockwell's quote is an amusing method of stating that he did not repaint Abraham Lincoln from life. He is implying that he is not old enough to have seen Lincoln in person, as Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 and also Rockwell was born in 1894. Rockwell is likewise indicating that he is not immortal, as some individuals may have believed. This quote is an amusing method of Rockwell expressing his admiration for Lincoln and his artwork. It is also a way of him humbly acknowledging that he is not as skilled as some individuals may assume. Rockwell's quote is a suggestion that despite the fact that he is a talented musician, he is still human and has his constraints.