You Cannot Bring Prosperity By Discouraging Thrift
You cannot bring 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 brotherhood of men 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.
-William J. H. Boetcker
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Beautiful, powerful, and true. Thank you for sharing.
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Why are you attributing this quote to William Boetcker? It is from Abraham Lincoln?
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Hi Silvia,
Actually, go check out this link: http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org/blurbs/lincoln-cannots.html
It’s a page called “The Ten “You Cannots” Abraham Lincoln Did Not Say”.
Shawn
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Man, this is all true. Well put.
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[...] to Happy Publishing for posting this quote recently…it is a really timely and well-spoken idea. I agree [...]
Yes, very thought provoking, thank you! If you and the Rev. Boetcker would pardon me, might I add:
“You cannot give back unless you are fulfilled first.”
(I said that!)
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