--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to people's safety, money…" description: "\"“When it comes to people's safety, money wins out every time”\" — Gil Scott-Heron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/gil-scott-heron-9568_money_when-it-comes-to-people-s-safety-money-w_2101046.jpg" --- # When it comes to people's safety, money wins out every time ![“When it comes to people's safety, money wins out every time” quote by Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/gil-scott-heron-9568_money_when-it-comes-to-people-s-safety-money-w_2101046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/gil-scott-heron-9568_money_when-it-comes-to-people-s-safety-money-w_2101046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/gil-scott-heron-9568_money_when-it-comes-to-people-s-safety-money-w_2101046.jpg) > ““When it comes to people's safety, money wins out every time”” [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal priorities often favor profit over protecting individuals, leading to unsafe conditions. **In simple terms:** Money often outweighs safety concerns. Key Takeaway Advocate for safety over profit. Themes safety economics ethics Mood critical concerned Type social commentary political When to use this quote - urban planning - workplace regulations - consumer product design Key Concepts capitalism risk assessment public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can communities enforce safety without sacrificing economic growth? - What incentives could align profit with protection? A Different Perspective Profit motives can ignore long‑term health costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wins/) ## Related quotes > [The pros really like all the new people playing poker because they love the dead money; but when the money wins they don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-moneymaker/the-pros-really-like-all-the-new-people-playing-poker-because-they/) [Chris Moneymaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-moneymaker/) > [Many persons think that by hoarding money they are gaining safety for themselves. If money is your only hope for independence, you will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/many-persons-think-that-by-hoarding-money-they-are-gaining-safety-for/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [In the 'west' success is defined in purely material terms. He with the most money wins... We should question, speak out and work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-a-brennan/in-the-west-success-is-defined-in-purely-material-terms-he-with-the/) Mark A. Brennan > [I felt like I needed to reassure people in the safety of love and community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-marley/i-felt-like-i-needed-to-reassure-people-in-the-safety-of-love-and/) [Skip Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-marley/) > [The people's safety is the law of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-otis/the-people-s-safety-is-the-law-of-god/) [James Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-otis/) > [It's not good for people to have the safety net too low... People can take care of themselves better than we allow them to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/it-s-not-good-for-people-to-have-the-safety-net-too-low-people-can/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/every-time-something-really-bad-happens-people-cry-out-for-safety-and-2/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Defense wins at every level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/defense-wins-at-every-level/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [“When all of this is over, no matter which one of us wins, I will not let you go so easily. Agreed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/when-all-of-this-is-over-no-matter-which-one-of-us-wins-i-will-not/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Who dares wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-dares-wins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is no wonder he wins every game. He has never done a thing in his life exept play games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-is-no-wonder-he-wins-every-game-he-has-never-done-a-thing-in-his/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [If we have to sum up the Book of Revelation in one phrase, it would be, 'Jesus wins.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jud-wilhite/if-we-have-to-sum-up-the-book-of-revelation-in-one-phrase-it-would-be/) [Jud Wilhite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jud-wilhite/) > [I've said this: If Jim Leyland had been in my place, he'd have the 2,000 wins and I'd have 1,000. Leyland is the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-ve-said-this-if-jim-leyland-had-been-in-my-place-he-d-have-the-2/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [Whether or not your person wins or loses, give him a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/whether-or-not-your-person-wins-or-loses-give-him-a-chance/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) ## More by Gil Scott-Heron > [Oftentimes, the way it seems to be is that our artists in particular point themselves out as spokesmen for a certain constituency in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/oftentimes-the-way-it-seems-to-be-is-that-our-artists-in-particular/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I was one of the first three black students to go to an all-white school in Tennessee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-was-one-of-the-first-three-black-students-to-go-to-an-all-white/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [A good poet feels what his community feels. Like if you stub your toe, the rest of your body hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/a-good-poet-feels-what-his-community-feels-like-if-you-stub-your-toe/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I find it not just strange but almost ridiculous that people could take a song like the one I was doing and interpret it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-find-it-not-just-strange-but-almost-ridiculous-that-people-could/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [Womenfolk raised me and I was full-grown before I knew I came from a broken home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/womenfolk-raised-me-and-i-was-full-grown-before-i-knew-i-came-from-a/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [If you aren't having no fun, die, because you're running a worthless program, far as I'm concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/if-you-aren-t-having-no-fun-die-because-you-re-running-a-worthless/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I have a novel that I can write. It's about three soldiers from Somalia. Some babies have been disappearing up on 144th Street, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-have-a-novel-that-i-can-write-it-s-about-three-soldiers-from/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [ I work hard at it \[delivery of lyrics\], just like I worked hard at getting my masters degree. It's not just something I sit… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-work-hard-at-it-delivery-of-lyrics-just-like-i-worked-hard-at/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite.' 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Are the people who are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-ve-always-had-questions-about-what-it-meant-to-be-a-protester-to-be/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I was a piano player before I was a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-was-a-piano-player-before-i-was-a-poet/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I cannot afford to watch Fox News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-cannot-afford-to-watch-fox-news/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [I think a whole lot of stuff gets by people - I could name half a dozen groups that do songs that are openly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-think-a-whole-lot-of-stuff-gets-by-people-i-could-name-half-a-dozen/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) [Explore all 71 Gil Scott-Heron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) ## More Money quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/) Cathy > [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/) [Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. 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