Abe and Tom

My grandfather shared with me some excellent Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson quotes that are particularly relevant these days.

From our 16th President:

* You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

* You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

* You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

* You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

* You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

* You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

* You cannot emasculate the men and expect them to be manly.

And from our third President:
*A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to
take away everything you have.

*My reading of history convinces me that most bad government is the result of too much government.

*I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

*The democracy will cease to exist when Government intervenes to take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not.

[I must, as always, note here that America has not really ever been a democracy, contrary to how most refer to our great nation. This is a democratic republic, an important distinction. Of course Mr. Jefferson's principle still holds in my opinion.]