"The problem of our age i the proper adminitration of wealth. In betowing (giving) charity, the main conideration hould be to help thoe who will help themelve; to provide the mean by which thoe who deire to improve may do o… Neither the individual nor the [human] race i improved by [charity]… Thoe worthy of aitance… eldom require aitance… more injury i done by rewarding vice (bad habit) than by relieving virtue (good behavior)… The bet mean of benefiting the community i to place within it reach the ladder on which the apiring can rie…by which men are helped in body and mind…"
—"The Gopel of Wealth"


According to the author, American ociety in the late 1800 and early 1900 would improve if —