The Ten Cannots
1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
5. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
6. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
9. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.
10. And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
By William J. H. Boetcker: “The Ten Cannots” (1916); type of work: decalogue in pamphlet form
William John Henry Boetcker was born on 17 July 1873 in Altona, Hamburg, Germany. At 18 years of age, he emigrated to the United States of America, where he eventually became a Presbyterian minister with the title Reverend, and an influential public speaker. William John Henry Boetcker passed on at 88 years of age on 12 March 1962 in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
5. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
6. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
9. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.
10. And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
By William J. H. Boetcker: “The Ten Cannots” (1916); type of work: decalogue in pamphlet form
William John Henry Boetcker was born on 17 July 1873 in Altona, Hamburg, Germany. At 18 years of age, he emigrated to the United States of America, where he eventually became a Presbyterian minister with the title Reverend, and an influential public speaker. William John Henry Boetcker passed on at 88 years of age on 12 March 1962 in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.