The following list of “Cannots” was compiled by William J. H. Boetcker. He was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States as a young adult. He settled in Brooklyn, New York where he would become an ordained Presbyterian minister.

Mr. Boetcker was an excellent orator and became an internationally well-known motivational speaker.

Unfortunately, Mr. Boetcker’s list of “Cannots” has been, on many occasions, inaccurately credited to Abraham Lincoln.

Interestingly, when read in a different light, Boetcker’s list, unwittingly, defines and maligns much of the fundamental ideology of radical, second-wave feminism. The italics are mine.

!.  You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. (spendthrift through “independence”)

2.  You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. (radical feminist vs. Christian men)

3.  You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. (radical feminist vs. Christian men)

4.  You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. (poor women vs. rich…