--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But when no risk is taken there is no…" description: "\"But when no risk is taken there is no freedom. It is thus that, in an industrial society, the plethora of laws made for our personal safety convert the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/alan-watts-587_busybodies_but-when-no-risk-is-taken-there-is-no-fr_2930615.jpg" --- # But when no risk is taken there is no freedom. It is thus… ![“But when no risk is taken there is no freedom. It is thus that, in an industrial society, the plethora of laws made for our personal safety convert the land into a nursery, and policemen hired to protect us become selfserving busybodies.” quote by Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/alan-watts-587_busybodies_but-when-no-risk-is-taken-there-is-no-fr_2930615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/alan-watts-587_busybodies_but-when-no-risk-is-taken-there-is-no-fr_2930615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/alan-watts-587_busybodies_but-when-no-risk-is-taken-there-is-no-fr_2930615.jpg) > “But when no risk is taken there is no freedom. It is thus that, in an industrial society, the plethora of laws made for our personal safety convert the land into a nursery, and policemen hired to protect us become selfserving busybodies.” [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Risk is essential for freedom; excessive safety laws turn society into a protective nursery, limiting autonomy. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs risk; too many safety rules limit us. Key Takeaway Embrace calculated risks to preserve liberty. Themes freedom risk societal control individual autonomy Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new business - advocating for deregulation - personal decision making - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy social critique libertarianism Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking for personal growth? - How do safety regulations impact innovation? A Different Perspective Excessive risk can lead to harmful consequences without safeguards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busybodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busybodies/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nursery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursery/) [Personal liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-liberty/) [Personal safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-safety/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) ## Related quotes > [That is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has in his personal safety and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/that-is-not-a-just-government-nor-is-property-secure-under-it-where/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Upon this law, depend the natural rights of mankind, the supreme being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beatifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/upon-this-law-depend-the-natural-rights-of-mankind-the-supreme-being/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [I like to control the risk I take. 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It is like trying to clutch water in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-more-we-try-to-catch-hold-of-the-present-moment-the-more-elusive/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The Universe is the game of the self, which plays hide and seek forever and ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-universe-is-the-game-of-the-self-which-plays-hide-and-seek/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. 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Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/as-you-make-more-and-more-powerful-microscopic-instruments-the/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [We are at the moment looking at space as something to be entered by the tremendous thrust of a rocket because that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/we-are-at-the-moment-looking-at-space-as-something-to-be-entered-by/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel who gawks at things that sensible people take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/a-philosopher-is-a-sort-of-intellectual-yokel-who-gawks-at-things/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The best way to convince someone is by making him realize that what you speak came from his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-best-way-to-convince-someone-is-by-making-him-realize-that-what/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The myths underlying our culture and underlying our common sense have not taught us to feel identical with the universe, but only parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-myths-underlying-our-culture-and-underlying-our-common-sense-have/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [To feel that life is meaningless unless “I” can be permanent is like having fallen desperately in love with an inch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/to-feel-that-life-is-meaningless-unless-i-can-be-permanent-is-like/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) [Explore all 460 Alan Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## More Busybodies quotes > [Jane had that happy disposition which would like to imagine that every one really wishes the well-being of his neighbour and struggles, though sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/jane-had-that-happy-disposition-which-would-like-to-imagine-that/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-one-prediction-that-never-comes-true-is-you-ll-thank-me-for/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [You know how some people are - they always feel they have to do things for other people's good, no matter what happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-parkinson-keyes/you-know-how-some-people-are-they-always-feel-they-have-to-do-things/) [Frances Parkinson Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-parkinson-keyes/) > [The goat's business is none of the sheep's concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/the-goat-s-business-is-none-of-the-sheep-s-concern/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Making those we love happy sounds innocent as a dove, but it can be as destructive as a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florida-scott-maxwell/making-those-we-love-happy-sounds-innocent-as-a-dove-but-it-can-be-as/) [Florida Scott-Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florida-scott-maxwell/) > [Nest of Soviet fellow travelers clacking busybodies in a Soviet jellyfish front, sitting here in Leesburg oozing out their funny little propaganda and making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/nest-of-soviet-fellow-travelers-clacking-busybodies-in-a-soviet/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) > [People used to complain about 'the idle rich.' But the idle rich did not do the kind of harm being done by today's busybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-used-to-complain-about-the-idle-rich-but-the-idle-rich-did-not/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Don't you meddle with me, and I won't meddle with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/don-t-you-meddle-with-me-and-i-won-t-meddle-with-you/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [People who seek political power are, with exceptions too rare to matter, never to be trusted; at best, such people are vain and officious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-boudreaux/people-who-seek-political-power-are-with-exceptions-too-rare-to/) [Donald J. 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