--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we expected self-reliance of family…" description: "\"If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg" --- # If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we… ![“If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded initiative instead of dependence on government, we would not only ameliorate many of the family-related social problems we see at present, but we…” quote by Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg) > “If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded initiative instead of dependence on government, we would not only ameliorate many of the family-related social problems we see at present, but we would also reduce our vulnerability to terrorism. People who are hardy, resilient, and self reliant are a lot harder to terrorize.” [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging self-reliance and rewarding initiative can lessen social issues and make societies less vulnerable to terrorism. **In simple terms:** Self-reliance reduces social problems and terror risk. Key Takeaway Promote independence and initiative. Themes self-reliance social policy security family dynamics terrorism resilience Mood thoughtful determined analytical Type policy analytical prescriptive When to use this quote - community development - government welfare reform - counter‑terrorism strategy - family support programs Key Concepts individualism social cohesion risk mitigation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance support with encouragement of independence? - What policies best foster resilience without neglecting vulnerable groups? A Different Perspective May overlook structural inequities that limit personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Hardiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardiness/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) [Resilient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilient/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliance/) [Self reliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliant/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-problems/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) ## Related quotes > [“Free Radicals want to take their careers into their own hands and put the world to work for them. Free Radicals are resilient, self-reliant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/free-radicals-want-to-take-their-careers-into-their-own-hands-and-put/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“How can we, as parents, raise resilient, self-driven children who are truly prepared for a world that’s rapidly changing, when traditional schooling often prioritizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jade-blake/how-can-we-as-parents-raise-resilient-self-driven-children-who-are/) Dr Jade Blake > [“There seems to be a thin, resilient, and self-healing shell between one's spiritual awareness and that dense web of confusion and often distress that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fahey/there-seems-to-be-a-thin-resilient-and-self-healing-shell-between-one/) [Edward Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fahey/) > [Snowdrops: Theirs is a fragile but hardy celebration... in the very teeth of winter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilder/snowdrops-theirs-is-a-fragile-but-hardy-celebration-in-the-very-teeth/) [Louise Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilder/) > [Plenty and peace breed cowards; hardness ever of hardiness is mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/plenty-and-peace-breed-cowards-hardness-ever-of-hardiness-is-mother/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is a healthful hardiness about real dignity that never dreads contact and communion with others however humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-healthful-hardiness-about-real-dignity-that-never-dreads/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [No matter what your current condition, how or where you grew up, or what education or training you feel you lack, you can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/no-matter-what-your-current-condition-how-or-where-you-grew-up-or/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Courage ought to be guided by skill, and skill armed by courage. Neither should hardiness darken wit, nor wit cool hardiness. Be valiant as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/courage-ought-to-be-guided-by-skill-and-skill-armed-by-courage/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [“he was willing to risk great personal harm and expend massive amounts of energy to develop that hardiness. You’ll have far better luck toughening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/he-was-willing-to-risk-great-personal-harm-and-expend-massive-amounts/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Why is it that fools always have the instinct to hunt out the unpleasant secrets of life, and the hardiness to mention them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/why-is-it-that-fools-always-have-the-instinct-to-hunt-out-the/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [Society asks of most men more than sheer intellect ability-it demands also moral hardiness, self-discipline, a competitive spirit and other qualities that in more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-adams-stratton/society-asks-of-most-men-more-than-sheer-intellect-ability-it-demands/) Julius Adams Stratton > [“Oh yes", said the old woman, "but I've heard these so-called stoves are by no means all they are supposed to be. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halld-r-laxness/oh-yes-said-the-old-woman-but-i-ve-heard-these-so-called-stoves-are/) [Halldór Laxness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halld-r-laxness/) > [“It was pretty miserable wretches that minded at all whether they were wet or dry. He could not understand why such people had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halld-r-laxness/it-was-pretty-miserable-wretches-that-minded-at-all-whether-they-were/) [Halldór Laxness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halld-r-laxness/) > [“Throughout our research, we were continually reminded of the “hardiness” research studies done by the International Committee for the Study of Victimization. These studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/throughout-our-research-we-were-continually-reminded-of-the-hardiness/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Most happy is he, who is entirely self-reliant, and who centres all his requirements in himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/most-happy-is-he-who-is-entirely-self-reliant-and-who-centres-all-his/) Senoraroy ## More by Bernard Levin > [The cure for mixed metaphors, I have always found, is for the patient to be obliged to draw a picture of the result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-cure-for-mixed-metaphors-i-have-always-found-is-for-the-patient/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [The less the power, the greater the desire to exercise it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-less-the-power-the-greater-the-desire-to-exercise-it/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Countries like ours are full of people who have all of the material comforts they desire, yet lead lives of quiet (and at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/countries-like-ours-are-full-of-people-who-have-all-of-the-material/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [It is assumed that when anyone gets into debt, the fault is entirely and always the fault of the lender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/it-is-assumed-that-when-anyone-gets-into-debt-the-fault-is-entirely/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [“If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/if-you-cannot-understand-my-argument-and-declare-it-s-greek-to-me-you/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Once, when a British Prime Minister sneezed, men half a world away would blow their noses. Now when a British Prime Minister sneezes nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/once-when-a-british-prime-minister-sneezed-men-half-a-world-away/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Let us never allow ourselves to think that poverty is an excuse for an invitation to totalitarianism, and if we should be tempted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/let-us-never-allow-ourselves-to-think-that-poverty-is-an-excuse-for/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [“The persistence of public officials varies inversely with the importance of the matter on which they are persisting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-persistence-of-public-officials-varies-inversely-with-the/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [In every age of transition men are never so firmly bound to one way of life as when they are about to abandon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/in-every-age-of-transition-men-are-never-so-firmly-bound-to-one-way/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [No amount of manifest absurdity... could deter those who wanted to believe from believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/no-amount-of-manifest-absurdity-could-deter-those-who-wanted-to/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Because tobacco is responsible for an impressive one-third of cancers, prevention efforts naturally begin with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/because-tobacco-is-responsible-for-an-impressive-one-third-of-cancers/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Whom the mad would destroy, first they make gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/whom-the-mad-would-destroy-first-they-make-gods/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [What has happened to architecture since the second world war that the only passers-by who can contemplate it without pain are those equipped with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/what-has-happened-to-architecture-since-the-second-world-war-that-the/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [The Stag at Bay with the mentality of a fox at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-stag-at-bay-with-the-mentality-of-a-fox-at-large/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [I suppose we all tend to remember only the happiness from our childhood, as a sundial refuses to tell the time except in fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/i-suppose-we-all-tend-to-remember-only-the-happiness-from-our/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) [Explore all 17 Bernard Levin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) ## More Dependence quotes > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [God's power under us, in us, surging through us, is exactly what turns dependence into unforgettable experiences of completeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/god-s-power-under-us-in-us-surging-through-us-is-exactly-what-turns/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [Love is . . . Knowing that the other person will always be with you regardless of what happens, Missing the other person when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-is-knowing-that-the-other-person-will-always-be-with-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Never depend on anyone else's strength but God's strength to help you through and nor expect from anyone except God to be with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/never-depend-on-anyone-else-s-strength-but-god-s-strength-to-help-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [The strongest reason for giving woman all the opportunities of higher education, for the full development of her faculties, forces of mind and body;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-strongest-reason-for-giving-woman-all-the-opportunities-of-higher/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [ They \[leaders in Western Europe\] do not misuse financial instruments, financial injections, but, first of all, seek structural change. This is urgent for our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-leaders-in-western-europe-do-not-misuse-financial-instruments/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Religion, in its most general view, is such a Sense of God in the soul, and such a conviction of our obligations to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-doddridge/religion-in-its-most-general-view-is-such-a-sense-of-god-in-the-soul/) [Philip Doddridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-doddridge/) > [By reducing our dependence of foreign oil and increasing alternative energy sources such as ethanol, we can begin to bring down prices at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/by-reducing-our-dependence-of-foreign-oil-and-increasing-alternative/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [A faith which we follow upon orders imposed from outside is no faith, and a community which puts its dependence upon such a pseudo-faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/a-faith-which-we-follow-upon-orders-imposed-from-outside-is-no-faith/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-need-to-exert-ourselves-that-much-more-and-break-out-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [ The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection \[from transgression\]. It becomes rusty as a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/the-heart-becomes-sick-as-the-body-becomes-sick-and-its-remedy-is-al/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [The safest hands to entrust all things is in the hands of the Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-safest-hands-to-entrust-all-things-is-in-the-hands-of-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Civilization is in no immediate danger of running out of energy or even just out of oil. But we are running out of environment-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-v-vaitheeswaran/civilization-is-in-no-immediate-danger-of-running-out-of-energy-or/) Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran > [If women be educated for dependence; that is, to act according to the will of another fallible being, and submit, right or wrong, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/if-women-be-educated-for-dependence-that-is-to-act-according-to-the/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) [Browse all 618 Dependence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the part of individuals, and if we rewarded initiative instead of dependence on government, we would not only ameliorate many of the family-related social problems we see at present, but we would also reduce our vulnerability to terrorism. People who are hardy, resilient, and self reliant are a lot harder to terrorize.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernard Levin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-groups-if-we-expected/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dependence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-groups-if-we-expected/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/bernard-levin-31024_dependence_if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-g_3211120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we expected self-reliance of family groups, if we expected hardiness and resilience and initiative on the…” — Bernard Levin", "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": "Bernard Levin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we expected self-reliance of family...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-groups-if-we-expected/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/if-we-expected-self-reliance-of-family-groups-if-we-expected/#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 } } ] } ```