The Past Speaks: Obama Are You Listening?

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.

– Quoted by Ronald Reagan (from Rev. William J. H. Boetcker [1916], commonly misattributed to Abraham Lincoln)

Via Tammy Bruce

See also Left Coast Rebel's discussion of the above points here.