The Cannot List

I don't usually post about my political views on here, but this one was too good to pass up. I just got this in an email from my friend Virginia, a true historian. She provided this synopsis for the following painting:

The quote is attributed to Abe Lincoln which is fitting for this piece however Abe did not come up with the “cannots list.” In 1916 an American religious leader named William Botecker came up with a pamphlet called “The Ten Cannots”. This (modified) quote is often attributed to Abe--even by Ronald Regan in a speech at the 1992 Republican Convention!

So I said to him, "Barack, I know Abe Lincoln, and you ain't Abe Lincoln."

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 people's initiative and independence.

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

...Abraham Lincoln