The money was all appropriated for the top in the hopes that it would trickle down to the needy. Mr. Hoover was an engineer. He knew that water trickled down. Put it uphill and let it go and it will reach the dryest little spot. But he didn’t know that money trickled up. Give it to the people at the bottom and the people at the top will have it before night, anyhow. But it will at least have passed through the poor fellow’s hands.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist

Column (1932-11-25), “Weekly Article: And Here’s How It All Happened” [No. 518]
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An abbreviated form, used in memes, omits sentences 2-4, but is often presented in text as the full quotation.