WealtH By Andrew Carnegie
Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do, except in cases of accident or sudden change. Everyone has, of course, cases of individuals brought to his own knowledge where temporary assistance can do genuine good, and these he will not overlook.
But the amount which can be wisely given by the individual for individuals is necessarily limited by his lack of knowledge of the circumstances connected with each. He is the only true reformer who is as careful and as anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to aid the worthy, and, perhaps, even more so, for in almsgiving more injury is probably done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue.
But the amount which can be wisely given by the individual for individuals is necessarily limited by his lack of knowledge of the circumstances connected with each. He is the only true reformer who is as careful and as anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to aid the worthy, and, perhaps, even more so, for in almsgiving more injury is probably done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue.
Response
What Carnegie is getting at is that everyone thinks they need help but they most often don't. There is the special few who need help and deserve it because they are trying hard to accomplish their goals but some outside force is holding them back. I believe that he is also leaning towards that it is our responsibility as humans to realize when someone is giving their all but are not quite making it, and help them to achieve their goal. Other people are a persons greatest asset and they should not be taken advantage and if they provide help to you, you should provide the same back to them.
Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth," North American Review 148 (June 1889): 653–64