Wisdom Never Ages: The Ten Cannots

In these times, it is interesting to hear wise insight from a voice of the 19th century: that of William J.H. Boetcker. A German immigrant, he became a Presbyterian minister in the U.S. and became known for his eloquent and motivating speeches and writings.

He is best known for "The Ten Cannots," frequently falsely attributed to Abraham Lincoln:

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.

And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

[Hmmmm ... maybe if we hand this to Obama, telling him that Lincoln wrote it, maybe Obama might consider some of these principles ... Just hopin' for change, you know.]