--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [T]he more public provisions were made…" description: "\"[T]he more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer . . . [taking] away from before..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/benjamin-franklin-65_accumulation_t-he-more-public-provisions-were-made-fo_386793.jpg" --- # \[T\]he more public provisions were made for the poor, the… ![“[T]he more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer . . . [taking] away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependence of somewhat else than a careful…” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/benjamin-franklin-65_accumulation_t-he-more-public-provisions-were-made-fo_386793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/benjamin-franklin-65_accumulation_t-he-more-public-provisions-were-made-fo_386793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cd/benjamin-franklin-65_accumulation_t-he-more-public-provisions-were-made-fo_386793.jpg) > “\[T\]he more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer . . . \[taking\] away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependence of somewhat else than a careful accumulation during youth and health for support in age and sickness.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public aid can reduce self‑reliance, leading to greater poverty and loss of industrious virtues. **In simple terms:** Too much help can make people dependent. Key Takeaway Balance assistance with encouragement of personal effort. Themes poverty self‑reliance government policy industriousness Mood cautious reflective Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - welfare design - social safety nets - personal finance education - community development Key Concepts dependence frugality sobriety economic incentives Questions to Reflect On - How can programs promote both support and self‑sufficiency? - What incentives encourage frugality? A Different Perspective Aid without fostering independence may perpetuate poverty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accumulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accumulation/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Dependence Somewhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence-somewhat-3496736/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Frugality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frugality/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-dependence-3496735/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-spending/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poorer Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poorer-taking-3496734/) [Provision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provision/) [Provisions Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provisions-poor-2519309/) [Public Provisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-provisions-3496737/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Sobriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sobriety/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [In my youth, I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-my-youth-i-traveled-much-and-i-observed-in-different-countries/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-think-the-best-way-of-doing-good-to-the-poor-is-not-making-them/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-am-for-doing-good-to-the-poor-but-i-think-the-best-way-of-doing/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The way to wealth depends on just two words, industry and frugality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-way-to-wealth-depends-on-just-two-words-industry-and-frugality/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/creditors-are-a-superstitious-sect-great-observers-of-set-days-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The importation of foreigners into a country that has as many inhabitants as the present employments and provisions for subsistence will bear, will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-importation-of-foreigners-into-a-country-that-has-as-many/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Industry, perseverance, and frugality make fortune yield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/industry-perseverance-and-frugality-make-fortune-yield/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-way-to-wealth-is-as-plain-as-the-way-to-market-it-depends-chiefly/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-studious-in-your-profession-and-you-will-be-learned-be-industrious-2/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Righteousness, or justice, is, undoubtedly of all the virtues, the surest foundation on which to create and establish a new state. But there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/righteousness-or-justice-is-undoubtedly-of-all-the-virtues-the-surest/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-studious-in-your-profession-and-you-will-be-learned-be-industrious/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Acquire Riches by Industry and Frugality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/acquire-riches-by-industry-and-frugality/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [1) Temperance... drink not to elevation. (2) Silence... avoid trifling conversations. (3) Order: Let all your things have their places... (4) Resolution... perform without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/1-temperance-drink-not-to-elevation-2-silence-avoid-trifling/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-in-general-virtuous-and-you-will-be-happy/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/so-much-for-industry-my-friends-and-attention-to-one-s-own-business/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Accumulation quotes > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [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 think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-think-that-only-daring-speculation-can-lead-us-further-and-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Karma is often wrongly confused with the notion of a fixed destiny. 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You're all a bit too young for that, but when you get to a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/for-me-personally-there-is-one-really-interesting-thing-you-re-all-a/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [The mounting burden of taxation not only undermines individual incentives to increased work and earnings, but in a score of ways discourages capital accumulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-mounting-burden-of-taxation-not-only-undermines-individual/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [When the accumulation of wealth is no longer of high social importance, there will be great changes in the code of morals. 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