---
title: "16 Ifs Quotes By Robert Reich"
description: "16 Ifs quotes by Robert Reich. Plus more from Robert Reich and more Ifs sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/robert-reich-1333_democracy_if-you-give-up-on-democracy-you-might-as_2160193.png"
---

> [If you give up on democracy, you might as well give up on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-democracy-you-might-as-well-give-up-on-everything/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/robert-reich-1333_democracy_if-you-give-up-on-democracy-you-might-as_2160193.png)

> [If you want to be a change agent, you have to ready to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-want-to-be-a-change-agent-you-have-to-ready-to-fail/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/robert-reich-1333_agents_if-you-want-to-be-a-change-agent-you-hav_2834603.png)

> [If you ever want to get a sense of your own personal failure, look at yourself trying to get across a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-ever-want-to-get-a-sense-of-your-own-personal-failure-look-at/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4d/robert-reich-1333_failure_if-you-ever-want-to-get-a-sense-of-your_1844616.png)

> [As to the meaning of "corporate social responsibility," Friedman and I would agree: If a certain action improves the corporation's bottom line,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/as-to-the-meaning-of-corporate-social-responsibility-friedman-and-i/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/robert-reich-1333_action_as-to-the-meaning-of-corporate-social-re_1164457.png)

> [If leadership is about anything, it's about leading. Not leading people back to where they already are, because they don't need that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-leadership-is-about-anything-it-s-about-leading-not-leading-people/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff0/robert-reich-1333_ifs_if-leadership-is-about-anything-it-s-abo_1788403.png)

> [Yale Law School was the kind of place you went if you felt you needed to go to law school, maybe, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/yale-law-school-was-the-kind-of-place-you-went-if-you-felt-you-needed/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bad/robert-reich-1333_felt_yale-law-school-was-the-kind-of-place-yo_1528999.jpg)

> [If consumers don't have the wherewithal to spend because all the money's going to the top, and the people at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-consumers-don-t-have-the-wherewithal-to-spend-because-all-the/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/robert-reich-1333_consumers_if-consumers-don-t-have-the-wherewithal_470725.jpg)

> [One of the things I tell my students is that if you want to understand what's been going on and also what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/one-of-the-things-i-tell-my-students-is-that-if-you-want-to/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/robert-reich-1333_blame_one-of-the-things-i-tell-my-students-is_803187.jpg)

> [We are born, we grow up, we live our lives as best we can. If we are thoughtful we are good parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-are-born-we-grow-up-we-live-our-lives-as-best-we-can-if-we-are/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/robert-reich-1333_able_we-are-born-we-grow-up-we-live-our-lives_2658713.png)

> [In the early 1970s, Milton Friedman argued that corporations should not be socially responsible because they had no mandate to be; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/in-the-early-1970s-milton-friedman-argued-that-corporations-should/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/robert-reich-1333_21st-century_in-the-early-1970s-milton-friedman-argue_2509374.jpg)

> [The Trans Pacific Partnership (and fast-track authority to whisk it through Congress without debate) is fast approaching. If you haven't seen our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-trans-pacific-partnership-and-fast-track-authority-to-whisk-it/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/robert-reich-1333_authority_the-trans-pacific-partnership-and-fast-t_1903149.png)

> [If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving-up-on-democracy-and-if-you/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6b/robert-reich-1333_democracy_if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving_91672.png)

> [I am not an economic determinist. If I were, I would throw up my hands; I just would not bother. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-am-not-an-economic-determinist-if-i-were-i-would-throw-up-my-hands/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/robert-reich-1333_bother_i-am-not-an-economic-determinist-if-i-we_2411889.png)

> [We are creating a one size fits all system that needlessly brands many young people as failures, when they might thrive if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-are-creating-a-one-size-fits-all-system-that-needlessly-brands/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/robert-reich-1333_brands_we-are-creating-a-one-size-fits-all-syst_2700083.png)

> [We can't know in advance what history is going to say, but I would be utterly amazed and surprised if this entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-can-t-know-in-advance-what-history-is-going-to-say-but-i-would-be/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/robert-reich-1333_adventure_we-can-t-know-in-advance-what-history-is_2875653.jpg)

> [Cutting taxes is not bad. But if you cut taxes on the wealthy, which is what they wanted to do, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/cutting-taxes-is-not-bad-but-if-you-cut-taxes-on-the-wealthy-which-is/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/robert-reich-1333_class_cutting-taxes-is-not-bad-but-if-you-cut_1944888.png)

## Other authors on Ifs

## More by Robert Reich

> [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [A leader is someone who steps back from the entire system and tries to build a more collaborative, more innovative system that will work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/a-leader-is-someone-who-steps-back-from-the-entire-system-and-tries/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to the moneyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving-up-on-democracy-and-if-you/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Given that ever-broadening array of options and alternatives, as consumers and investors, we are often bewildered. We need guidance. That's where today's brands come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/given-that-ever-broadening-array-of-options-and-alternatives-as/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Limits should be placed on how big big banks can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/limits-should-be-placed-on-how-big-big-banks-can-become/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/every-organization-no-matter-who-it-is-just-follow-the-money/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Any bank that is too big to fail is too big. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/any-bank-that-is-too-big-to-fail-is-too-big-period/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. I think the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/today-for-good-or-ill-people-are-thinking-about-many-social-problems/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/there-s-sort-of-a-chilling-effect-on-non-profits-and-the-media-and-a/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [We already have an annual wealth tax on homes, the major asset of the middle class. It's called the property tax. Why not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-already-have-an-annual-wealth-tax-on-homes-the-major-asset-of-the/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

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                        "text": "We are born, we grow up, we live our lives as best we can. If we are thoughtful we are good parents and good partners. If we are wise we strive for integrity and intimacy. If we are fortunate we discover love and joy. If we are able, we make the world a little better than we found it.",
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                        "text": "In the early 1970s, Milton Friedman argued that corporations should not be socially responsible because they had no mandate to be; they existed to make money, not to be charitable institutions. But in the economy of the 21st century, corporations cannot be socially responsible, if social responsibility is understood to mean sacrificing profits for the sake of some perceived social good. That's because competition has become so much more intense.",
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                        "text": "The Trans Pacific Partnership (and fast-track authority to whisk it through Congress without debate) is fast approaching. If you haven't seen our video about it, please watch. If you have, please share. And mobilize and organize friends and colleagues to call their senators and representatives to tell them to vote against this reprehensible deal.",
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                        "text": "If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to the moneyed interests, the powerful people and institutions of society, take it all. That's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Then we give up. Then we are 100 percent plutocracy.",
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                        "text": "I am not an economic determinist. If I were, I would throw up my hands; I just would not bother. I think it's wrong to be an economic determinist. I think it's wrong to simply say, \"Well, inevitably, if you're poor, you're going to get a lousy education; if you're lower-middle class, the cards are going to be stacked against you, and you'll probably never get anywhere.\"",
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                        "text": "We are creating a one size fits all system that needlessly brands many young people as failures, when they might thrive if offered a different education whose progress was measured differently. Paradoxically we're embracing standardized tests just when the economy is eliminating standardized jobs.",
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                        "text": "We can't know in advance what history is going to say, but I would be utterly amazed and surprised if this entire adventure, this entire Iraqi invasion from the beginning of its inception, were not judged to be an utter failure and a terrible, terrible thing for the world.",
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                        "text": "Cutting taxes is not bad. But if you cut taxes on the wealthy, which is what they wanted to do, you're not helping people who need better schools and better infrastructure and healthcare. You're basically robbing the middle class and the poor to provide tax cuts to the rich.",
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