--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say that a state cannot pursue its…" description: "\"To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there is no money, is like saying that an engineer cannot build roads, because there are no kilomete..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png" --- # To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there… ![“To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there is no money, is like saying that an engineer cannot build roads, because there are no kilometers.” quote by Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png) > “To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there is no money, is like saying that an engineer cannot build roads, because there are no kilometers.” [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A state lacking funds cannot claim it cannot act, just as an engineer lacking distance cannot claim he cannot build roads. **In simple terms:** Money isn’t the only limit to action. Key Takeaway Don’t let lack of resources excuse in. Themes economics political theory resource allocation Mood pragmatic inspirational Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - government budgeting - public works - development planning - non‑profit projects Key Concepts constraints agency infrastructure Questions to Reflect On - What creative solutions can overcome financial limits? - How do we prioritize projects with limited funds? A Different Perspective Resource scarcity can still impede progress despite will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [No money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-money/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Roads Kilometers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roads-kilometers-1489465/) [Say State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-state-939956/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-pursue-732378/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [“We may test the hypothesis that the State is largely interested in protecting itself rather than its subjects by asking: which category of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/we-may-test-the-hypothesis-that-the-state-is-largely-interested-in/) [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) > [“However, he did say that a state that does not educate and train women is like a man who only trains his right arm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/however-he-did-say-that-a-state-that-does-not-educate-and-train-women/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [If you want my opinion, I say that this is a state based on occupation, that has usurped the rights of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/if-you-want-my-opinion-i-say-that-this-is-a-state-based-on-occupation/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) > [No scientist, engineer, writer, psychologist, artist, or physician - and certainly no scholar, and therefore no serious university faculty member - pursues his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-botstein/no-scientist-engineer-writer-psychologist-artist-or-physician-and/) [Leon Botstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-botstein/) > [After the war, there was no industry. We lost the war. We had our whole city destroyed. No money. No studio. No film. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-de-laurentiis/after-the-war-there-was-no-industry-we-lost-the-war-we-had-our-whole/) [Dino De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-de-laurentiis/) > [Americans, like human beings everywhere, believe many things that are obviously untrue, the monograph went on. Their most destructive untruth is that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/americans-like-human-beings-everywhere-believe-many-things-that-are/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [It's better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there's no money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-spend-money-like-there-s-no-tomorrow-than-to-spend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's success anyway? Is success about making the most money? No, money for the most part turns people into jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/what-s-success-anyway-is-success-about-making-the-most-money-no-money/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [The only medicine that needs no prescription, has no unpleasant taste, and costs no money is laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/the-only-medicine-that-needs-no-prescription-has-no-unpleasant-taste/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [I don't think people understand when you say you are making a micro-budget film that you are getting paid no money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-don-t-think-people-understand-when-you-say-you-are-making-a-micro/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [Willy DeVille knows the truth of a city street and the courage in a ghetto love song. And the harsh reality in his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-pomus/willy-deville-knows-the-truth-of-a-city-street-and-the-courage-in-a/) [Doc Pomus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-pomus/) > [I went to university with no money. I can't understand a society that wouldn't give a poor person the same opportunity as a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-went-to-university-with-no-money-i-can-t-understand-a-society-that/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [My wife ain't gonna make love to me if I got no money!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/my-wife-ain-t-gonna-make-love-to-me-if-i-got-no-money/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [I used to be a virgin, but I gave it up because there was no money in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-warfield/i-used-to-be-a-virgin-but-i-gave-it-up-because-there-was-no-money-in/) [Marsha Warfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-warfield/) > [ I think it is worse \[in 2015\] for a mid-list author such as myself. You either have to sell like Stephen King or go… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/i-think-it-is-worse-in-2015-for-a-mid-list-author-such-as-myself-you/) [W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/) ## More by Ezra Pound > [“I once saw a small child go to an electric light switch as say, "Mamma, can I open the light?" She was using the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-once-saw-a-small-child-go-to-an-electric-light-switch-as-say-mamma/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Till now they send him dreams and no more deed; So doth he flame again with might for action, Forgetful of the council of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/till-now-they-send-him-dreams-and-no-more-deed-so-doth-he-flame-again/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [A great age of literature is perhaps always a great age of translations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/a-great-age-of-literature-is-perhaps-always-a-great-age-of/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [It would be about as easy for an American to become a Chinaman or a Hindoo as for him to acquire an Englishness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/it-would-be-about-as-easy-for-an-american-to-become-a-chinaman-or-a/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Poets who are not interested in music are, or become, bad poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/poets-who-are-not-interested-in-music-are-or-become-bad-poets/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/anyone-who-is-too-lazy-to-master-the-comparatively-small-glossary/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [where the dead walked and the living were made of cardboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/where-the-dead-walked-and-the-living-were-made-of-cardboard/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Liberty is not a right but a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/liberty-is-not-a-right-but-a-duty/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-artist-is-always-beginning-any-work-of-art-which-is-not-a/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/any-general-statement-is-like-a-cheque-drawn-on-a-bank-its-value/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [The author's conviction on this day of New Year is that music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-author-s-conviction-on-this-day-of-new-year-is-that-music-begins/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [In case I conk out, this is provisionally what I have to do: I must clarify obscurities; I must make clearer definite ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/in-case-i-conk-out-this-is-provisionally-what-i-have-to-do-i-must/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Adolf Hitler was a Jeanne d'Arc, a saint. He was a martyr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/adolf-hitler-was-a-jeanne-d-arc-a-saint-he-was-a-martyr/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I could I trust starve like a gentleman. It's listed as part of the poetic training, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/i-could-i-trust-starve-like-a-gentleman-it-s-listed-as-part-of-the/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) [Explore all 273 Ezra Pound quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there is no money, is like saying that an engineer cannot build roads, because there are no kilometers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ezra Pound" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-aims-because-there-is-no-money/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-aims-because-there-is-no-money/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/ezra-pound-1208_aim_to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-ai_928127.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To say that a state cannot pursue its aims because there is no money, is like saying that an engineer cannot…” — Ezra Pound", "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": "Ezra Pound", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To say that a state cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-aims-because-there-is-no-money/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/to-say-that-a-state-cannot-pursue-its-aims-because-there-is-no-money/#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 } } ] } ```