The Ten Cannots – William Boetcker
William John Henry Boetcker (1873–1962) was an American religious leader and influential public speaker.
Wikipedia’s brief bio indicates that Boetcker was born in Hamburg, Germany, and soon after his arrival in the United States as a young adult, he was ordained a Presbyterian minister.
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.
Boetcker is best remembered for his publication in 1916 of a proverbial pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots – the authorship of which is often attributed in error to Abraham Lincoln.
The messages communicated in Boetcker’s The Ten Cannots are most appropriate for today, even 93 years after the original publication.
Boetcker’s advice should be required reading for all members of the U.S. Congress, specifically members of the Senate Finance Committee.
The Ten Cannots
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
93 years and still no one is listening.
how true, something our present admin. has no knowledge, proven by their backgrounds