The following is often inappropriately attributed to Abraham Lincoln per a leaflet misprint in 1942. Several versions can be found on-line, but the original was penned by William J. H. Boetcker in 1916...
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
- William J. H. Boetcker
I would like to add one more...
You cannot imagine how great it feels to have another person like something you've created enough to actually PAY you for it!
I get that same feeling of bewilderment and joy blended into one every time someone buys a piece I've made. I guess my critical eye sees faults they don't and wonders why someone would buy such drivel. I hope that feeling (the one of bewilderment and joy, not of drivel) never gets old!
The last time I felt that way was... when was that again? Oh, it was yesterday afternoon! Megan Fitzpatrick had e-mailed me to let me know one of the articles I'd submitted to Popular Woodworking for their Out Of The Woodwork contest was picked as a runner up! They want to pay me for the first publish rights to it! So now someone wants to pay me for the words I've written! More importantly, I think, is that I can now say I've been published. :)
That totally made my year!
