# Great words of wisdom

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-words-of-wisdom/38937>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 30, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-words-of-wisdom/38937 "2000-10-30T16:06:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-words-of-wisdom/38937/1 "2000-10-30T16:06:34Z")

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I received the following quotes in an e-mail this morning. They are attributed to Abraham Lincoln. I think they’re pretty appropriate given that the election is coming up.

> [@](#):
>
> Great Words of Wisdom From Abraham Lincoln
> 
> You cannot bring prosperity by discouraging thrift.
> 
> You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
> 
> You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
> 
> You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred.
> 
> You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
> 
> You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
> 
> You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
> 
> You cannot learn to help men permanently by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves.
> 
> ```
> Abraham Lincoln
> 
> ```

Something to think about.

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-words-of-wisdom/38937/2 "2000-10-30T16:17:14Z")

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Also …

“You cannot stick a Cadillac up your nose.”

Oh, wait, that was Steve Martin. My mistake.

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-words-of-wisdom/38937/3 "2000-10-30T20:01:43Z")

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Wow, I never knew Abe was such an Anti-communist.