The Cart Before the Horse
Our business system has its base
On one small thought that’s out of place;
The merest trifle—nothing much, of course.
The truth is there—who says it’s not?
Only—the trouble is—you’ve got
The cart before the horse!
You say unless a man shall work
Right earnestly, and never shirk,
He may not eat. Now look—the change is small,
And yet the truth is plain to see—
Unless man eats, and frequently,
He cannot work at all!
And which comes first! Why, that is plain,
The man comes first. And, look again—
A baby! with an appetite to fit!
You have to feed him years and years,
And train him up with toil and tears,
Before he works a bit!
So let us change our old ideas,
And learn with these advancing years
To give the oats before we ask for speed;
Not set the hungry horse to run,
And tell him when the race is done
That he shall have his feed!