You can feed a man for a day if you offer him a fish. "You can feed a man for a lifetime if you teach him to fish." This old Chinese adage captures the importance of education. If someone lacks an education, then yes, you need to teach them how to fish so they can eat forever. This proverb has been used by many leaders throughout history to encourage learning and independence from society. It was popular among the Russians when it was written by Aleksandr Pushkin in 1827. He called it a very useful saying because most people at that time lived off the land and needed to learn how to fish just like everyone else. In more recent years, this proverb has been used by politicians to promote literacy and understanding of government programs. President Lyndon B. Johnson used it in his speech on Medicare when he said, "We will not let those who seek to destroy Social Security succeed by cutting benefits for the elderly and disabled." The proverb continues to be used today by many public figures to encourage educational opportunities and self-sufficiency around the world. Some other famous people who have quoted this proverb are John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Steve Jobs.