Talk:Perfect savages

William John Henry Boetcker Born 1873 was an American religious leader and influential public speaker who wrote what has been called The Ten Cannots maxims principles needed for righteous government:

1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
5. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
6. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
9. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
10. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

There are several minor variants of the pamphlet in circulation

1. "You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
4. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred.
5. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
6. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
7. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
8. You cannot build character and courage by taking away initiative and independence.
9. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."