Again and again Quote by Henry Hazlitt
“The first (lesson) which we meet again and again in history, is that once the dole or similar relief programs are introduced, they seem almost inevitably - unless surrounded by the most rigid restrictions - to get out of hand. The second lesson is that once this happens the poor become more numerous and worse off than they were before, not only because they have lost self-reliance, but because the sources of wealth and production on which they depend for either doles or jobs are diminished or destroyed.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt, 1946
Welfare programs, without strict limits, tend to expand and harm the very people they aim to help.
In simple terms: Unrestricted aid can backfire.
Key Takeaway
Design aid with clear limits and incentives.
Themes
welfare
dependency
policy
economics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- government assistance
- social safety nets
- poverty alleviation
- labor markets
Key Concepts
unintended consequences
self‑reliance
resource depletion
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can prevent abuse?
- How to balance aid and self‑reliance?
A Different Perspective
Over‑regulation can also stifle needed help.
