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.

Rev. William John Henry Boetcker, 1873


Traducció:

- No pots crear prosperitat descoratjant la Iniciativa Pròpia.
- No pots enfortir el feble, afeblint al fort.
- No pots ajudar els petits, aixafant els grans.
- No pots ajudar al pobre, destruint el ric.
- No pots elevar a l'assalariat, pressionant a qui paga el salari.
- No pots resoldre els teus problemes mentre gastis més del que guanyes.
- No pots promoure la fraternitat de la humanitat, admetent i incitant l'odi de classes.
- No pots garantir una adequada seguretat amb diners prestats.
- No pots formar el caràcter i el valor de l'home traient-li la seva independència i iniciativa.
- No pots ajudar els homes permanentment, realitzant per ells el que ells poden i han de fer per si mateixos.