---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we don't get a grip on government…"
description: "\"If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.\" — George Osborne"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png"
---

#  If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will…

![“If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.” quote by George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png)

> “If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.”

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

## About This Quote

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

Uncontrolled government spending hampers economic growth.

**In simple terms:** Spending must be managed.

Key Takeaway

Implement fiscal discipline.

Themes

economics government policy growth budgeting

Mood

serious analytical

Type

political economic

When to use this quote

- budget cuts
- tax reforms
- public services

Key Concepts

public finance macroeconomic stability

Questions to Reflect On

- What spending reforms yield growth?
- How to balance austerity with public needs?

A Different Perspective

Political pressure may limit cuts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-spending/) [Grip Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grip-government-3509003/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Spending Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending-growth-1217242/)

## Related quotes

> [You're having government spending on the economy being cut almost everywhere. That means that the only source of spending for growth has to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/you-re-having-government-spending-on-the-economy-being-cut-almost/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Of the alternatives we face in controlling long-term spending growth, moving Medicare to a voucher system seems only mildly unfortunate - and nothing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/of-the-alternatives-we-face-in-controlling-long-term-spending-growth/)

[Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/)

> [Household spending growth has been particularly solid in 2015, with purchases of new motor vehicles especially strong. Job growth has bolstered household income, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/household-spending-growth-has-been-particularly-solid-in-2015-with/)

[Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/)

> [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [State capitalism is about more than emergency government spending, implementation of more intelligent regulation, or a stronger social safety net. It's about state dominance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/state-capitalism-is-about-more-than-emergency-government-spending/)

[Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/)

> [The idea that more taxes and more government spending is the best way to help hardworking middle class taxpayers - that's an old idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-idea-that-more-taxes-and-more-government-spending-is-the-best-way/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [Hillary Clinton: putting big government spending financed by the Chinese ahead of good-paying jobs for middle-class Americans. Is she guilty or not guilty?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/hillary-clinton-putting-big-government-spending-financed-by-the/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

> [Do you know that all of the money that we are spending, that the government is spending, must come from you? The government has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/do-you-know-that-all-of-the-money-that-we-are-spending-that-the/)

[J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/)

> [Having said that, I believe we must not compound the natural disaster of Katrina by creating a fiscal disaster in Congress - it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chocola/having-said-that-i-believe-we-must-not-compound-the-natural-disaster/)

[Chris Chocola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chocola/)

> [To win in November, Republican candidates must show they are in touch with voter concerns about growth, jobs, paychecks, government spending and debt. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/to-win-in-november-republican-candidates-must-show-they-are-in-touch/)

[Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/)

> [You've got the Democratic Party that now depends on more government spending and actual building the dependence on government in order to increase their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/you-ve-got-the-democratic-party-that-now-depends-on-more-government/)

[Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/)

> [Government spending cannot create additional jobs. If the government provides the funds required by taxing the citizens or by borrowing from the public, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/government-spending-cannot-create-additional-jobs-if-the-government/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [Who knew, in 2000, that compassionate conservatism meant bigger government, unrestricted government spending, government intrusion in personal matters, government ineptitude, and cronyism in disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-buckley/who-knew-in-2000-that-compassionate-conservatism-meant-bigger/)

[Christopher Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-buckley/)

> [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible. ... because I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-am-in-favor-of-cutting-taxes-under-any-circumstances-and-for-any/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

## More by George Osborne

> [We will also target tax evasion and off-shore tax havens... Everyone must pay their share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/we-will-also-target-tax-evasion-and-off-shore-tax-havens-everyone/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [There are plenty of people who don't want change - the Labour Party, some of their militant trade union friends like Unite busy causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-are-plenty-of-people-who-don-t-want-change-the-labour-party/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [You know the illusion of the cheap money is over and now Britain has to go out there and graft and earn its way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/you-know-the-illusion-of-the-cheap-money-is-over-and-now-britain-has/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/just-as-we-should-never-balance-the-budget-on-the-backs-of-the-poor/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Britain has no divine right to be one of the richest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/britain-has-no-divine-right-to-be-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-the/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Everyone in our society has had to make a contribution towards dealing with the debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/everyone-in-our-society-has-had-to-make-a-contribution-towards/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Well British pension funds have not been investing the savings of British people in British infrastructure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/well-british-pension-funds-have-not-been-investing-the-savings-of/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Believe me, I understand that most higher rate taxpayers are not the super-rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/believe-me-i-understand-that-most-higher-rate-taxpayers-are-not-the/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [The positive news is that the British economy is continuing to grow and is creating jobs. And it is positive news too that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/the-positive-news-is-that-the-british-economy-is-continuing-to-grow/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [No other chancellor in the long history of the office has felt the need to pass a law in order to convince people he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/no-other-chancellor-in-the-long-history-of-the-office-has-felt-the/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [I think you can look at the British economy with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/i-think-you-can-look-at-the-british-economy-with-confidence/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Every day as Chancellor I see alerts telling me of risks around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/every-day-as-chancellor-i-see-alerts-telling-me-of-risks-around-the/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Tax cuts should be for life, not just for Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/tax-cuts-should-be-for-life-not-just-for-christmas/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [The rise in world oil prices has been larger than anyone forecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/the-rise-in-world-oil-prices-has-been-larger-than-anyone-forecast/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

[Explore all 118 George Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

## More Government quotes

> [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/)

[Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/)

> [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/)

[Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/)

> [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/)

[John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [We can't have a government that will collapse in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/we-can-t-have-a-government-that-will-collapse-in-three-months/)

[Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Browse all 21,248 Government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Osborne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spending-there-will-be-no-growth/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Government"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spending-there-will-be-no-growth/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/george-osborne-3998_government_if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spe_1187414.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.” — George Osborne",
                "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": "George Osborne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If we don't get a grip...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spending-there-will-be-no-growth/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/if-we-don-t-get-a-grip-on-government-spending-there-will-be-no-growth/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
