Charity begins at home.
—Common Proverb
Welfare’s purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from the ambassadors of other countries
—Townsend Harris
Are you willing to spend time studying the issues, making yourself aware, and then conveying that information to family and friends? Will you resist the temptation to get a government handout for your community?
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges’ views of fairness, reasonableness, or justice.
—Hugo Black (1886–1971) American Lawyer, Supreme Court Justice
The human race divides itself politically into those who want to be controlled, and those who have no such desire
—Robert A. Heinlein (1907–88) American Science Fiction Writer
A welfare state is frightened of every poor person who tries to get in and every rich person who tries to get out.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Author, Economist, Politician
And here we encounter the seeds of government disaster and collapse—the kind that wrecked ancient Rome and every other civilization that allowed a socio political monster called the welfare state to exist.
—Barry Goldwater (1909–98) American Politician, Businessperson, Representative
Mothers born on relief have their babies on relief. Nothingness, truly, seems to be the condition of these New York people. They are nomads going from one rooming house to another, looking for a toilet that functions.
—Elizabeth Hardwick (1916–2007) American Critic, Essayist
I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
Never could an increase of comfort or security be a sufficient good to be bought at the price of liberty.
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) British Historian, Poet, Critic
We all have a little weakness, which is very natural but rather misleading, for supposing that this epoch must be the end of the world because it will be the end of us. How future generations will get on without us is indeed, when we come to think of it, quite a puzzle. But I suppose they will get on somehow, and may possibly venture to revise our judgments as we have revised earlier judgments
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
A man’s liberties are none the less aggressed upon because those who coerce him do so in the belief that he will be benefited
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Political/Social Theorist
Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways; hence, there are an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection, bonuses, subsidies, incentives, the progressive income tax, free education, the right to employment, the right to profit, the right to wages, the right to relief, the right to the tools of production, interest free credit, etc., etc. And it the aggregate of all these plans, in respect to what they have in common, legal plunder, that goes under the name of socialism
—Frederic Bastiat (1801–50) French Political Economist
Don’t gag people with welfare, they’ll never make an effort.
—Unknown
One of the sad signs of our times is that we have diminished those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something to the welfare and happiness of my fellow man, I shall be satisfied.
—George Westinghouse (1846–1914) American Inventor, Manufacturer
The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Somehow, the fact that more poor people are on welfare, receiving more generous payments, does not seem to have made this country a nice place to live – not even for the poor on welfare, whose condition seems not noticeably better than when they were poor and off welfare. Something appears to have gone wrong; a liberal and compassionate social policy has bred all sorts of unanticipated and perverse consequences.
—Irving Kristol (1920–2009) American Political Writer, Publisher
The best way to put more money in people’s wallets is to leave it there in the first place
—Edwin Feulner (b.1941) American Economist, Activist
As the Republican platforms says, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country.
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930) American President, Chief Justice
While I see many hoof marks going in, I see none coming out. It is easier to get into the enemy’s toils than out again
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
We take care of our health, we lay up money, we make our roof tight and our clothing sufficient, but who provides wisely that he shall not be wanting in the best property of all—friends?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of a field in hope that the cow will back up to them
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
‘Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
I know no class of my fellowmen, however just, enlightened, and humane, which can be wisely and safely trusted absolutely with the liberties of any other class
—Frederick Douglass (1817–95) American Abolitionist, Author, Editor, Diplomat, Leader
Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men’s natural abilities as to restrain them.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Religion was nearly dead because there was no longer real belief in future life; but something was struggling to take its place—service—social service—the ants creed, the bees creed.
—John Galsworthy (1867–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
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