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| Randy Pullen |
The quotes are attributed to Abraham Lincoln, however that
is untrue. They were written in 1916 by the Rev. William J. H. Boetcker, a
Presbyterian clergyman and pamphlet writer. Randy Pullen my friend and Co-Host of "Hair on Fire" on KFNX 1100 News Talk
Radio passed them on to me. We had been discussing the role of government and
he sent me this message. I am sharing this with our readers and listeners,
written in 1916 the message still pertains today. The message what role government should have in our
lives. I have read it many times since, I received it and each time am in awe of that such profound statements from 1916 still apply today. . be ###
From: Randy Pullen
To: Me
Here is something I like to refer to
from time to time. It was written by William J.H. Boetcker, a minister, in 1916
a believer in liberty:
"The Ten Cannots"
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
earn 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.
You cannot help men
permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.
Or as I like to say in
summary, "Government can't do for you what you won't do for
yourself."
William John Henry Boetcker (1873 – 1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, he was ordained a Presbyterian minister soon after his arrival in the United States as a young adult. Rev. Boetcker was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and ordained in Brooklyn, New York.
He quickly gained attention as an eloquent motivational speaker, and is often regarded today as the forerunner of such contemporary "success coaches" as Anthony Robbins. An outspoken political conservative, Rev. Boetcker is perhaps best remembered for his authorship of a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots. Originally published in 1916, it is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln. The error apparently stems from a leaflet printed in 1942 by a conservative political organization called the Committee for Constitutional Government. The leaflet bore the title "Lincoln on Limitations" and contained some genuine Lincoln quotations on one side and the "Ten Cannots" on the other, with the attributions switched. The mistake of crediting Lincoln for having been the source of "The Ten Cannots" has been repeated many times since, most notably by Ronald Reagan in a speech he gave at the 1992 Republican convention in Houston.[1][2]
William John Henry Boetcker (1873 – 1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, he was ordained a Presbyterian minister soon after his arrival in the United States as a young adult. Rev. Boetcker was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and ordained in Brooklyn, New York.
He quickly gained attention as an eloquent motivational speaker, and is often regarded today as the forerunner of such contemporary "success coaches" as Anthony Robbins. An outspoken political conservative, Rev. Boetcker is perhaps best remembered for his authorship of a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots. Originally published in 1916, it is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln. The error apparently stems from a leaflet printed in 1942 by a conservative political organization called the Committee for Constitutional Government. The leaflet bore the title "Lincoln on Limitations" and contained some genuine Lincoln quotations on one side and the "Ten Cannots" on the other, with the attributions switched. The mistake of crediting Lincoln for having been the source of "The Ten Cannots" has been repeated many times since, most notably by Ronald Reagan in a speech he gave at the 1992 Republican convention in Houston.[1][2]
