Who said “For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future…”?

Verified

George Linnaeus Banks. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"What I Live For", st. 5. First appeared in the Family Herald. Later published in Peals from the Belfry (London: Hope & Co., 1853), p. 30, and in Daisies in the Grass (London: Robert Hardwicke, 1865), p. 23. Misquoted by E. R. Norris Matthews in Notes and Queries, ser. 6, vol. 11, no.

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“For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do.”
— George Linnaeus Banks
Verified"What I Live For", st. 5. First appeared in the Family Herald. Later published in Peals from the Belfry (London: Hope & Co., 1853), p. 30, and in Daisies in the Grass (London: Robert Hardwicke, 1865), p. 23. Misquoted by E. R. Norris Matthews in Notes and Queries, ser. 6, vol. 11, no. · evidenceAid and Assistance
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "What I Live For", st. 5. First appeared in the Family Herald. Later published in Peals from the Belfry (London: Hope & Co., 1853), p. 30, and in Daisies in the Grass (London: Robert Hardwicke, 1865), p. 23. Misquoted by E. R. Norris Matthews in Notes and Queries, ser. 6, vol. 11, no..

APA

Banks, G. L. (n.d.). For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6036-for-the-cause-that-lacks-assistance-for-the/

MLA

Banks, George Linnaeus. “For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6036-for-the-cause-that-lacks-assistance-for-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Banks, George Linnaeus. “For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/6036-for-the-cause-that-lacks-assistance-for-the/.

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