Over the vast plain I wander, observing a thousand strange and incredible and terrifying manifestations of the Bootstrap-lifting impulse.
They say, 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. ' They don't realize that not everybody's bootstraps are the same length.
Capitalists are no more capable of self-sacrifice than a man is capable of lifting himself up by his own bootstraps.
None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.
Many have changed so much that they have lost the magic of the dream that carried them on their own bootstraps.
It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.
It is a cruel injustice to tell a bootless man to pull himself up by his bootstraps.
But one may say something and yet not be able to do it. Try, for instance, lifting yourself up by the bootstraps.
We live in a world where not everyone has the urge to help others. . . It is OK to encourage others to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, but if you do, just remember that some people have no boots.
The doctrine of thrift for the poor is dumb and cruel, like advising them to try and lift themselves by their bootstraps.
