Stephen Covey, the management guru who died this week, would have had a hard time selling his books in Benjamin Franklin’s America, or Abe Lincoln’s. His best-selling book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” would have been considered self-evident, full of truths drummed into earlier Americans by schools, churches and the Puritan ethic.

Today, Covey’s thoughts about how to succeed seem innovative, despite their long history and proven track record. His work is a rebuke to the notion that government can do it all for you.