--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes if your only approach is…" description: "\"Sometimes if your only approach is cutting spending at a time when the economy's contracting, then the economy will contract further.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/barack-obama-17_approach_sometimes-if-your-only-approach-is-cutti_1236098.jpg" --- # Sometimes if your only approach is cutting spending at a… ![“Sometimes if your only approach is cutting spending at a time when the economy's contracting, then the economy will contract further.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/barack-obama-17_approach_sometimes-if-your-only-approach-is-cutti_1236098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/barack-obama-17_approach_sometimes-if-your-only-approach-is-cutti_1236098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/barack-obama-17_approach_sometimes-if-your-only-approach-is-cutti_1236098.jpg) > “Sometimes if your only approach is cutting spending at a time when the economy's contracting, then the economy will contract further.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cutting spending during a downturn can deepen recession because demand falls further. **In simple terms:** Spending cuts in a recession worsen the economy. Key Takeaway Avoid fiscal tightening when growth is weak. Themes economics fiscal policy recession Mood cautious analytical Type policy economic When to use this quote - government budgeting - business planning - personal finance - public sector management Key Concepts Keynesian multiplier budget deficits policy timing Questions to Reflect On - How can targeted stimulus offset spending cuts? - What safeguards protect vulnerable groups? A Different Perspective If cuts are too deep, essential services suffer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Contracting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracting/) [Contracting Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracting-economy-3841263/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Cutting Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting-spending-1037291/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Economy Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy-contract-3841265/) [Economy Contracting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy-contracting-3841264/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I want to reduce America's deficit by cutting spending that we don't need but also by asking the wealthy to do a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-reduce-america-s-deficit-by-cutting-spending-that-we-don-t/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [An easily accessible and transparent database of contract information will bring sunshine into the confusing and sometimes shadowy practice of government contracting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/an-easily-accessible-and-transparent-database-of-contract-information/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [In the end the privatisation of war is not acceptable. We shouldn't be issuing these sub-contracts to these contracting companies because the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/in-the-end-the-privatisation-of-war-is-not-acceptable-we-shouldn-t-be/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [My point is cutting spending shouldn't be reliant on the debt limit though. It's something we have to do. The good news for America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plouffe/my-point-is-cutting-spending-shouldn-t-be-reliant-on-the-debt-limit/) [David Plouffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plouffe/) > [My approach to cutting spending as president, is to do a ten percent across the board cut of all federal agencies, and then ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/my-approach-to-cutting-spending-as-president-is-to-do-a-ten-percent/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [If politicians get money to spend and don't have to be responsible for taxation, then of course that will bias their attitude toward more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/if-politicians-get-money-to-spend-and-don-t-have-to-be-responsible/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [It is being alleged that the Federal Government is 'cutting' spending. In fact, we are not 'cutting' anything. Defense spending under this budget would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-l-thomas/it-is-being-alleged-that-the-federal-government-is-cutting-spending/) [Craig L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-l-thomas/) > [The zeitgeist is for cutting spending and balancing the budget. But I do not want the Republican Party to be perceived as putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/the-zeitgeist-is-for-cutting-spending-and-balancing-the-budget-but-i/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Someone has to stay on the line and say, no, we can do this by cutting spending and reducing the size of government. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/someone-has-to-stay-on-the-line-and-say-no-we-can-do-this-by-cutting/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I have a record as governor. I have a record of cutting spending. And I talked yesterday not only about we ought to cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-have-a-record-as-governor-i-have-a-record-of-cutting-spending-and-i/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I'm not cutting services. But I'm cutting spending. But I may cut Department of Education. I believe common core is a very bad thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-not-cutting-services-but-i-m-cutting-spending-but-i-may-cut/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Look, I am not worried about Washington cutting too much spending too fast. I mean, the kinds of spending cuts we're talking about just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/look-i-am-not-worried-about-washington-cutting-too-much-spending-too/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I personally don't believe we ought to be raising taxes or cutting spending, either one, until we get this economy off the ground. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-personally-don-t-believe-we-ought-to-be-raising-taxes-or-cutting/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [You know, even people who talk about cutting spending and they go 'That's not the spending that I was actually talking about that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-quayle/you-know-even-people-who-talk-about-cutting-spending-and-they-go-that/) [Ben Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-quayle/) > [I think what they're looking for is for us to keep our promises and to do the simple things, like cutting spending and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-labrador/i-think-what-they-re-looking-for-is-for-us-to-keep-our-promises-and/) [Raul Labrador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-labrador/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. 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