Lincoln?

I hesitated posting this because it may or may not be from Abe Lincoln. It's widely attributed to him, though possibly erroneously:

You cannot help men permanently by doing what they could and should do for themselves. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.

If it's not Lincoln, it should have been. And regardless, it's something our current leaders should contemplate.