The 10 Cannots
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 not Lincoln
See more motivational quotes here
BTW, if you like this quote, please hit a like/share button and/or leave a comment; why do you like this quote?
If you thought someone else said/wrote these words, read https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lincoln-prosperity-quote/
Beautiful, powerful, and true. Thank you for sharing.
Why are you attributing this quote to William Boetcker? It is from Abraham Lincoln?
Hi Silvia,
Actually, go check out this link:
It’s a page called “The Ten “You Cannots” Abraham Lincoln Did Not Say”.
Shawn
Man, this is all true. Well put.
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!)
Very well written.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy you liked it. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe for my blog updates; I’m planning to start posting a whole lot more very soon. 🙂
I originally had a link in a comment above, but I think it got removed by a broken link checker I have on this site. If you missed it, here’s a link explaining how Lincoln did not write/say the words above: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lincoln-prosperity-quote/