--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Private citizens and companies are always…" description: "\"Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and greedy, because they want to profit. But the government picks your pocket any chance it can ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png" --- # Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and… ![“Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and greedy, because they want to profit. But the government picks your pocket any chance it can get, but they're never called greedy.” quote by Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png) > “Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and greedy, because they want to profit. But the government picks your pocket any chance it can get, but they're never called greedy.” [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often label private profit‑seeking as immoral, yet similar government actions are ignored or justified. **In simple terms:** Profit is seen as evil for individuals but not for the state. Key Takeaway Question double standards in judging motives. Themes hypocrisy politics ethics Mood critical skeptical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - tax policy debates - corporate social responsibility - public opinion formation - media analysis Key Concepts capitalism government power public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does media framing affect our view of profit? - When is state extraction justified? A Different Perspective Government actions can also be driven by profit motives, blurring the moral line. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Greedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-greedy-232589/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Greedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy/) [Greedy Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy-want-773903/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Private Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-citizens-395367/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-government-5951509/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Every striker from England I know is the same; they're greedy and they want to get goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/every-striker-from-england-i-know-is-the-same-they-re-greedy-and-they/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [He who is greedy is always in want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-greedy-is-always-in-want/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I am extremely greedy. There is so much I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-deol/i-am-extremely-greedy-there-is-so-much-i-want-to-do/) [Esha Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-deol/) > [As the farmer said, "I'm not greedy, all I want is the land next to mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/as-the-farmer-said-i-m-not-greedy-all-i-want-is-the-land-next-to-mine/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [“The real problem is I'm greedy. I want complete, utter, unceasing bliss. But I don't want to fall into it either. If happiness were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-de-la-pava/the-real-problem-is-i-m-greedy-i-want-complete-utter-unceasing-bliss/) [Sergio De La Pava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-de-la-pava/) > [I'm greedy, I want to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-haliburton/i-m-greedy-i-want-to-be-great/) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-haliburton/) > [I have achieved a lot and I'm grateful for that - I'm just a bit greedy because I want to add the Olympics. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-have-achieved-a-lot-and-i-m-grateful-for-that-i-m-just-a-bit-greedy/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [“I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life," said Simone de Beauvoir. "I want to be a woman and to be a man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/i-am-awfully-greedy-i-want-everything-from-life-said-simone-de/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/i-am-awfully-greedy-i-want-everything-from-life-i-want-to-be-a-woman/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [When your kid is being selfish or greedy and you want to help them not be that way, you have to find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/when-your-kid-is-being-selfish-or-greedy-and-you-want-to-help-them/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Ideally, the writer needs no audience other than the few who understand that it is immodest and greedy to want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/ideally-the-writer-needs-no-audience-other-than-the-few-who/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is not that people are evil or greedy. The conditions that socially support the system force us to behave in socially offensive ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/it-is-not-that-people-are-evil-or-greedy-the-conditions-that-socially/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“That boy. That stupid little foolish boy took their money, and he ran. Back to Zephyr, back to the clean hills, back where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/that-boy-that-stupid-little-foolish-boy-took-their-money-and-he-ran/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [... a bad attitude, that the love of money is the root of all evil and the rich are evil and greedy and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/a-bad-attitude-that-the-love-of-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil-and-the/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) ## More by Greg Gutfeld > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [America is like the greatest hit of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/america-is-like-the-greatest-hit-of-the-world/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“Politics is way cool, as long as it’s progressive. Conservatives by nature hate politics and politicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/politics-is-way-cool-as-long-as-it-s-progressive-conservatives-by/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I haven't used that word since I was 7 years old. I don't understand Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-haven-t-used-that-word-since-i-was-7-years-old-i-don-t-understand/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I don't understand why a 40 is a quarter of beer when a 40 is 40 ounces. It's time to embrace the metric system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-don-t-understand-why-a-40-is-a-quarter-of-beer-when-a-40-is-40/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [At a certain point, we need to figure out how to reward those who choose a path that offers, often, almost no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/at-a-certain-point-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-reward-those-who/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [There's always something heroic and romantic about taking a stand against the powers that be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/there-s-always-something-heroic-and-romantic-about-taking-a-stand/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [How odd that the proponents of free expression think 'free' only applies to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/how-odd-that-the-proponents-of-free-expression-think-free-only/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“separately.) The truth is that conservatives do have the cool message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/separately-the-truth-is-that-conservatives-do-have-the-cool-message/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [You can't get more racist than hating black conservatives just because they're black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/you-can-t-get-more-racist-than-hating-black-conservatives-just/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [When one becomes a liberal, he or she pretends to advocate tolerance, equality and peace, but hilariously, they’re doing so for purely selfish reasons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/when-one-becomes-a-liberal-he-or-she-pretends-to-advocate-tolerance/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I have to say that Adam Levine is truly a daring young man to go on Twitter to bash Fox News. He's so rebellious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-have-to-say-that-adam-levine-is-truly-a-daring-young-man-to-go-on/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Actors seem brave and unpredictable, but they're spontaneous as a tax return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/actors-seem-brave-and-unpredictable-but-they-re-spontaneous-as-a-tax/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Al Gore completely lied about climate change in an effort to make a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/al-gore-completely-lied-about-climate-change-in-an-effort-to-make-a/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) [Explore all 286 Greg Gutfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and greedy, because they want to profit. But the government picks your pocket any chance it can get, but they're never called greedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Gutfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/private-citizens-and-companies-are-always-seen-as-evil-and-greedy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/private-citizens-and-companies-are-always-seen-as-evil-and-greedy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/261/greg-gutfeld-1129_chance_private-citizens-and-companies-are-alway_2390302.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Private citizens and companies are always seen as evil and greedy, because they want to profit. But the…” — Greg Gutfeld", "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": "Greg Gutfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Private citizens and companies are always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/private-citizens-and-companies-are-always-seen-as-evil-and-greedy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/private-citizens-and-companies-are-always-seen-as-evil-and-greedy/#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 } } ] } ```