Doing good Quote by Benjamin Franklin
““I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Public Welfare, 1750s
Encourages self-reliance over dependency, suggesting aid should empower rather than sustain poverty.
In simple terms: Help the poor become self‑sufficient, not dependent.
Key Takeaway
Promote empowerment, not handouts.
Themes
self‑reliance
poverty
public policy
empowerment
economics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
policy
educational
When to use this quote
- government assistance programs
- charitable initiatives
- community development
- education funding
- micro‑enterprise support
Key Concepts
social welfare
incentive structures
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance assistance with empowerment?
- What safeguards prevent aid from creating dependency?
A Different Perspective
Overly minimal aid can leave vulnerable people without essential safety nets.
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