---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Giving people like Dodd and Frank more…"
description: "\"Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like rewarding an arsonist with gasoline and matches.\" — Daniel J. Mitchell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg"
---

#  Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like…

![“Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like rewarding an arsonist with gasoline and matches.” quote by Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg)

> “Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like rewarding an arsonist with gasoline and matches.”

[Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Granting power to those who have caused damage only enables further harm.

**In simple terms:** Giving dangerous people more power worsens risk.

Key Takeaway

Limit authority for those with conflict of interest.

Themes

regulation accountability risk management

Mood

cautious critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- legislative reform
- corporate governance
- consumer protection
- financial oversight

Key Concepts

conflict of interest moral hazard policy design

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we ensure regulators act in public interest?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of authority?

A Different Perspective

Power can be checked through transparent oversight, not just removal.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arsonists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsonists/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [Mayor De Blasio's appointment of Bill Bratton as police commissioner is the height of hypocrisy. Asking Bratton to stop racial profiling and stop and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barron/mayor-de-blasio-s-appointment-of-bill-bratton-as-police-commissioner/)

Charles Barron

> [It is not altogether a bad thing to have criminal ancestors. An arsonist grandfather may bequeath one a nose for smelling smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/it-is-not-altogether-a-bad-thing-to-have-criminal-ancestors-an/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [“Darkest the outside 1921 "Agent of Fantasy" arsonists of the ascent from peril the miss actress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinidad-falcon/darkest-the-outside-1921-agent-of-fantasy-arsonists-of-the-ascent/)

Trinidad Falcon

> [We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire and six years later boasts that no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/we-now-know-that-a-neo-conservative-is-an-arsonist-who-sets-the-house/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Resentment is when you allow what’s eating you to eat you up. Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist. Bitterness is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/resentment-is-when-you-allow-what-s-eating-you-to-eat-you-up-revenge/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. Now you have the nerve to criticize the 'architect' America just hired -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/you-republicans-are-the-arsonists-who-burned-down-our-national-home/)

[Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/)

> [“I didn't realize there was a ranking." I said. "Sadie frowned. "What do you mean?" "A ranking," I said. "You know, what's crazier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-didn-t-realize-there-was-a-ranking-i-said-sadie-frowned-what-do-you/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [It could be worse," he said finally. "Efrenia married an arsonist. Jake's wife is a kleptomaniac. I suppose, a psychopathic spree killer isn't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/it-could-be-worse-he-said-finally-efrenia-married-an-arsonist-jake-s/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“I hear Mr. Palmer tell Hannah that it was an electrical fault. Five arsonists in one school and it ends up being something so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-hear-mr-palmer-tell-hannah-that-it-was-an-electrical-fault-five/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [I get a headache when I hear supporters of this endless warfare complaining about the federal budget deficits. They're like arsonists complaining about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-herbert/i-get-a-headache-when-i-hear-supporters-of-this-endless-warfare/)

[Bob Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-herbert/)

> [I am a phoenix who runs after arsonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-am-a-phoenix-who-runs-after-arsonists/)

[Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/)

> [The innovative leader has to be an arsonist and a firefighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sloane/the-innovative-leader-has-to-be-an-arsonist-and-a-firefighter/)

[Paul Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sloane/)

> [What's taken God 200 years to create was wiped out in a couple of days by what was apparently an arsonist, And it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-janklow/what-s-taken-god-200-years-to-create-was-wiped-out-in-a-couple-of/)

[Bill Janklow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-janklow/)

> [“We have arsonists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-have-arsonists/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [The serial arsonist is the most difficult to apprehend because the evidence is burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wambaugh/the-serial-arsonist-is-the-most-difficult-to-apprehend-because-the/)

[Joseph Wambaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wambaugh/)

## More by Daniel J. Mitchell

> [... both individuals and companies are using the Netherlands as a haven for productive activity. ... This is good news for all taxpayers. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/both-individuals-and-companies-are-using-the-netherlands-as-a-haven/)

[Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

> [According to the Tax Foundation, taxes now consume more than 38% of the average family's budget. That is more than is spent on food,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/according-to-the-tax-foundation-taxes-now-consume-more-than-38-of-the/)

[Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

> [All the forms of double taxation in the current system are punitive and self-destructive because they are literally destroying people's incentive to provide that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/all-the-forms-of-double-taxation-in-the-current-system-are-punitive/)

[Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

> [Politicians generally do the right thing only when all other options are exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/politicians-generally-do-the-right-thing-only-when-all-other-options/)

[Daniel J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

[Explore all 5 Daniel J. Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/)

## More Arsonists quotes

> [Mayor De Blasio's appointment of Bill Bratton as police commissioner is the height of hypocrisy. Asking Bratton to stop racial profiling and stop and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barron/mayor-de-blasio-s-appointment-of-bill-bratton-as-police-commissioner/)

Charles Barron

> [“We have arsonists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-have-arsonists/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [What's taken God 200 years to create was wiped out in a couple of days by what was apparently an arsonist, And it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-janklow/what-s-taken-god-200-years-to-create-was-wiped-out-in-a-couple-of/)

[Bill Janklow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-janklow/)

> [The innovative leader has to be an arsonist and a firefighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sloane/the-innovative-leader-has-to-be-an-arsonist-and-a-firefighter/)

[Paul Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sloane/)

> [I am a phoenix who runs after arsonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-am-a-phoenix-who-runs-after-arsonists/)

[Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/)

> [I get a headache when I hear supporters of this endless warfare complaining about the federal budget deficits. They're like arsonists complaining about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-herbert/i-get-a-headache-when-i-hear-supporters-of-this-endless-warfare/)

[Bob Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-herbert/)

> [“I hear Mr. Palmer tell Hannah that it was an electrical fault. Five arsonists in one school and it ends up being something so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-hear-mr-palmer-tell-hannah-that-it-was-an-electrical-fault-five/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [It could be worse," he said finally. "Efrenia married an arsonist. Jake's wife is a kleptomaniac. I suppose, a psychopathic spree killer isn't that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/it-could-be-worse-he-said-finally-efrenia-married-an-arsonist-jake-s/)

[Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/)

> [“I didn't realize there was a ranking." I said. "Sadie frowned. "What do you mean?" "A ranking," I said. "You know, what's crazier than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-didn-t-realize-there-was-a-ranking-i-said-sadie-frowned-what-do-you/)

[Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/)

> [You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. Now you have the nerve to criticize the 'architect' America just hired -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/you-republicans-are-the-arsonists-who-burned-down-our-national-home/)

[Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/)

> [Resentment is when you allow what’s eating you to eat you up. Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist. Bitterness is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/resentment-is-when-you-allow-what-s-eating-you-to-eat-you-up-revenge/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire and six years later boasts that no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/we-now-know-that-a-neo-conservative-is-an-arsonist-who-sets-the-house/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [“Darkest the outside 1921 "Agent of Fantasy" arsonists of the ascent from peril the miss actress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinidad-falcon/darkest-the-outside-1921-agent-of-fantasy-arsonists-of-the-ascent/)

Trinidad Falcon

> [It is not altogether a bad thing to have criminal ancestors. An arsonist grandfather may bequeath one a nose for smelling smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/it-is-not-altogether-a-bad-thing-to-have-criminal-ancestors-an/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [The serial arsonist is the most difficult to apprehend because the evidence is burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wambaugh/the-serial-arsonist-is-the-most-difficult-to-apprehend-because-the/)

[Joseph Wambaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wambaugh/)

[Browse all 27 Arsonists quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsonists/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like rewarding an arsonist with gasoline and matches.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Daniel J. Mitchell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-authority-is-like-rewarding-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arsonists"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-authority-is-like-rewarding-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/daniel-j-mitchell-65004_arsonists_giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-a_389191.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Giving people like Dodd and Frank more authority is like rewarding an arsonist with gasoline and matches.” — Daniel J. Mitchell",
                "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": "Daniel J. Mitchell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-mitchell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Giving people like Dodd and Frank...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-authority-is-like-rewarding-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-mitchell/giving-people-like-dodd-and-frank-more-authority-is-like-rewarding-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
