You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
The Reverend William John Henry Boetcker originally published the Ten Cannots in 1916 in a leaflet entitled "Lincoln on private property." One side had words by Abraham Lincoln, the other side had the "Cannots" that Rev. Boetcker wrote. It was republished by the Inside Publishing Company in 1917 and 1938. Rev. Boetcker lived from 1873 to 1962, was raised in Erie, PA and ordained in Brooklyn, NY.
2 comments:
Sounds like it needs to be republished again. I love your posts!
People never change. Same thing different year. I hope you don't mind if I steal this and post on my blog.
Post a Comment