--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think spreading money around by…" description: "\"If you think spreading money around by force seems like an odd definition of fairness, you're not alone.\" — Arthur C. Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png" --- # If you think spreading money around by force seems like an… ![“If you think spreading money around by force seems like an odd definition of fairness, you're not alone.” quote by Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png) > “If you think spreading money around by force seems like an odd definition of fairness, you're not alone.” [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forceful redistribution of wealth is often seen as unfair because it imposes coercion rather than voluntary exchange. **In simple terms:** Coercive wealth sharing feels unjust. Key Takeaway Seek voluntary cooperation over compulsion. Themes fairness economics politics justice Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical policy When to use this quote - policy debates - tax reforms - charitable giving - community projects Key Concepts redistribution coercion voluntary exchange Questions to Reflect On - Is fairness better achieved through consent? - What alternatives exist to forced redistribution? A Different Perspective Compulsion can breed resentment and reduce overall welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definition Fairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-fairness-1380540/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Fairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairness/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-force-1380541/) [Not alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-alone/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Spreading Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spreading-money-1380539/) [Think Spreading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-spreading-1380542/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Fairness' is one of the great mantras of the left. Since everyone has his own definition of fairness, that word is a blank check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/fairness-is-one-of-the-great-mantras-of-the-left-since-everyone-has/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Just spreading the money around - that isn't what makes people better off; it's having more and better goods and services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/just-spreading-the-money-around-that-isn-t-what-makes-people-better/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [“Each outbreak, by this view, represents a local event primarily explicable by a larger cause—the arrival of the wave. The main proponent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/each-outbreak-by-this-view-represents-a-local-event-primarily/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [I certainly am not alone in the world with this demand; I am in the best of company. Let it be said that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-certainly-am-not-alone-in-the-world-with-this-demand-i-am-in-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“But sometimes it's the smallest things that end up making the biggest difference." Indy reached out and clasped Peter's arm. "And you're not alone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-burt/but-sometimes-it-s-the-smallest-things-that-end-up-making-the-biggest/) [Marissa Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-burt/) > [I don't want to pretend like I'm clairvoyant or anything, but I had a tremendous sense of malaise about our political future. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/i-don-t-want-to-pretend-like-i-m-clairvoyant-or-anything-but-i-had-a/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [Christian life isn’t a one-person race. It’s a relay. You are not alone; you’re part of a team assembled by our unstoppable God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/christian-life-isn-t-a-one-person-race-it-s-a-relay-you-are-not-alone/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [Good comedy helps people know they're not alone. Great comedy provides an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/good-comedy-helps-people-know-they-re-not-alone-great-comedy-provides/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [A fan club is a group of people who tell an actor hes not alone in the way he feels about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-williams/a-fan-club-is-a-group-of-people-who-tell-an-actor-hes-not-alone-in/) [Kenneth Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-williams/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I sit in thy shadow but not alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-siddal/i-sit-in-thy-shadow-but-not-alone/) [Elizabeth Siddal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-siddal/) > [When you're really bummed out, the last thing you want to hear is up-tempo and positive. And it lets you know that you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/when-you-re-really-bummed-out-the-last-thing-you-want-to-hear-is-up/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [So if you feel as if you feel too much, well then you are not alone. May these words find you like a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-tworkowski/so-if-you-feel-as-if-you-feel-too-much-well-then-you-are-not-alone/) [Jamie Tworkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-tworkowski/) > [I'm not alone, but I am lonely without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-alone-but-i-am-lonely-without-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Arthur C. Brooks > [“Liberals are more likely to see people as victims of circumstance and oppression, and doubt whether individuals can climb without governmental help. My own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/liberals-are-more-likely-to-see-people-as-victims-of-circumstance-and/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [We will have bigger bureaucracies, bigger labor unions, and bigger state-run corporations. It will be harder to be an entrepreneur because of punitive taxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/we-will-have-bigger-bureaucracies-bigger-labor-unions-and-bigger/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [The truth is that relative income is not directly related to happiness. Nonpartisan social-survey data clearly show that the big driver of happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/the-truth-is-that-relative-income-is-not-directly-related-to/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [In my book I don't just demonstrate that free enterprise is the most efficient way of organizing an economy - which it is. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/in-my-book-i-don-t-just-demonstrate-that-free-enterprise-is-the-most/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [The battle is on, and nothing less than the soul of America is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/the-battle-is-on-and-nothing-less-than-the-soul-of-america-is-at-stake/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [The more control you have over your life, the more responsible you feel for your own success - or failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/the-more-control-you-have-over-your-life-the-more-responsible-you/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [FDR created today's 30 percent coalition. Obama wants to finish the job by turning it into a permanent ruling majority. There's nothing new about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/fdr-created-today-s-30-percent-coalition-obama-wants-to-finish-the/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [ Conservatives are better talking about opportunity and growth in the abstract, while liberals talk more about poor people. Right now we \[americans\] need a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/conservatives-are-better-talking-about-opportunity-and-growth-in-the/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [The system that enables the most people to earn the most success is free enterprise, by matching up people's skills, interests, and abilities. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/the-system-that-enables-the-most-people-to-earn-the-most-success-is/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [There is nothing inherently fair about equalizing incomes. If the government penalizes you for working harder than somebody else, that is unfair. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/there-is-nothing-inherently-fair-about-equalizing-incomes-if-the/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [Free enterprise is essentially a formula not just for wealth creation, but for life satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/free-enterprise-is-essentially-a-formula-not-just-for-wealth-creation/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [There's a general intuition around the nonprofit world these days that younger generations are less likely to join. But I have found in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/there-s-a-general-intuition-around-the-nonprofit-world-these-days/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [Whether we look at capitalism, taxes, business, or government, the data show a clear and consistent pattern: 70 percent of Americans support the free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/whether-we-look-at-capitalism-taxes-business-or-government-the-data/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [Happiness isn't found in some finite checklist of goals that we can diligently complete and then coast. It's how we live our lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/happiness-isn-t-found-in-some-finite-checklist-of-goals-that-we-can/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) > [The key to happiness is not being rich; it's doing something arduous and creating something of value and then being able to reflect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/the-key-to-happiness-is-not-being-rich-it-s-doing-something-arduous/) [Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) [Explore all 18 Arthur C. Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-noyes/a-design-may-be-called-organic-when-there-is-an-harmonious/) [Eliot Noyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-noyes/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) [Browse all 2,047 Definitions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think spreading money around by force seems like an odd definition of fairness, you're not alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur C. Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-force-seems-like-an-odd/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Definitions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-force-seems-like-an-odd/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/arthur-c-brooks-29421_definitions_if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-f_2535119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you think spreading money around by force seems like an odd definition of fairness, you're not alone.” — Arthur C. Brooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur C. Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you think spreading money around...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-force-seems-like-an-odd/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-brooks/if-you-think-spreading-money-around-by-force-seems-like-an-odd/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```