I have been known to steal words of wisdom from others -- since I have none of my own. Our politicians, from time to time, seem to do the same.
It is my intention to steal from a "politician" in writing this, and also to steal from myself. While looking for a quotation from Abe Lincoln that I once used in my "Thoughts", I found the context in which I had used it interesting. This was done in February, 1970. Here's what I wrote....
Lincoln's ideals, though did carry him to the highest position of leadership in our land. "You cannot strengthen the weak", he said, "by weakening the strong...you cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer...you cannot further the brotherhood of men by encouraging class hatred...you cannot help the poor by discouraging the rich...you cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and indepdence."
I wish I'd said that - and I wish these were the principles of our current crop of presidential candidates.
I concluded my 1970 "Thoughts" this way...
These principles will live a long time. They carry words of wisdom for the rich and the poor, the businessman, the reformer.
Austin could use Abraham Lincoln to help us finish out the last thirty years of this century. But since he's not coming, let's be sure the ideals and principles by which we operate lead us to the heights we seek.
By the way, I didn't vote for Lincoln. I was too young.
