17 julio 2009

Cannots and Cans

The 10 Cannots
By William J. H. Boetcker (wrongfully attributed to Abraham Lincoln)

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

10 Cans (not just 2)

You can learn a lot about happiness when thrift is necessary.
You can strengthen the weak by training them how to be strong.
You can help the poor man when you are not obsessed with riches.
You can further the brotherhood of man by seeing persons rather than class.
You can build character and courage by risk and allegience to something greater than yourself.
You can help small men by being a big man who cares.
You can lift the wage earner by teaching him what wage payers are willing to pay for.
You can get in lots of trouble by spending more than your income.
You can establish security when you're fixed on a unshakeable Kingdom made without hands- invisible or otherwise.
And you can help men, their families, and their grandchildren permanently by letting them do what they can and should do for themselves.