--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is perhaps as good a place as any to…" description: "\"“This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who cannot accept their proposals is not their g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg" --- # This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that… ![“This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who cannot accept their proposals is not their greater philanthropy, but their greater impatience. The question is not whether we wish to see everybody as well off as possible. Among men of good…” quote by Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg) > ““This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who cannot accept their proposals is not their greater philanthropy, but their greater impatience. The question is not whether we wish to see everybody as well off as possible. Among men of good will such an aim can be taken for granted. The real question concerns the proper means of achieving it. And in trying to answer this we must never lose sight of a few elementary truisms. We cannot distribute more wealth than is created. We cannot in the long run pay labor as a whole more than it produces.”” [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reformers often differ in patience, not generosity; the core issue is how to create wealth, not merely redistribute it. **In simple terms:** Wealth creation limits redistribution. Key Takeaway Effective reform needs realistic economic constraints. Themes economic policy philanthropy social reform wealth creation labor value Mood thoughtful critical analytical Type philosophical policy-oriented analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - nonprofit strategy - government budgeting - social welfare planning Key Concepts distribution limits productivity ethical intent Practical Applications - designing sustainable tax reforms - guiding charitable investment strategies Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can increase total wealth before redistribution? - How can reformers balance urgency with realistic economic limits? A Different Perspective Some argue that wealth can be generated through redistribution mechanisms, but historical evidence shows growth depends on production, not mere allocation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distribute Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distribute-wealth-404562/) [Greater Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-philanthropy-404563/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) [Philanthropy Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy-greater-404564/) [Reformers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformers/) [Taken for granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-for-granted/) ## Related quotes > [The question is not whether we wish to see everybody as well off as possible. Among men of good will such an aim can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-question-is-not-whether-we-wish-to-see-everybody-as-well-off-as/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [We cannot distribute more wealth than is created. We cannot in the long run pay labor as a whole more than it produces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/we-cannot-distribute-more-wealth-than-is-created-we-cannot-in-the/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [I disagreed with Carnegie's ideas on how to best to distribute his wealth. I spent mine! Spending creates more wealth for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/i-disagreed-with-carnegie-s-ideas-on-how-to-best-to-distribute-his/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [It's not enough to have economic growth. You have to distribute wealth throughout all of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabare-vazquez/it-s-not-enough-to-have-economic-growth-you-have-to-distribute-wealth/) [Tabare Vazquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabare-vazquez/) > [We need to have the social investments by which to quote unquote distribute some of that wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/we-need-to-have-the-social-investments-by-which-to-quote-unquote/) [Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/) > [I disagreed with Carnegie's ideas on how best to distribute his wealth. I spent mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/i-disagreed-with-carnegie-s-ideas-on-how-best-to-distribute-his/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [If our economy of freedom fails to distribute wealth as ably as it has created it, the road to dictatorship will be open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/if-our-economy-of-freedom-fails-to-distribute-wealth-as-ably-as-it/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [The urge to distribute wealth equally, and still more the belief that it can be brought about by political action, is the most dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-urge-to-distribute-wealth-equally-and-still-more-the-belief-that/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [When we see a special reformer we feel like asking him, What right have you, sir, to your own virtue? Is virtue piecemeal?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-we-see-a-special-reformer-we-feel-like-asking-him-what-right/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A Day never passes without some ardent reformer or group of reformers suggesting some new government intervention, some new statist scheme to fill some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/a-day-never-passes-without-some-ardent-reformer-or-group-of-reformers/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [When your money is taken by a thief, you get nothing in return. When your money is taken through taxes to support needless bureaucrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-your-money-is-taken-by-a-thief-you-get-nothing-in-return-when/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-believe-that-what-so-saddens-the-reformer-is-not-his-sympathy-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/we-will-meet-our-challenges-head-on-and-we-will-do-it-by-rejecting/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [“Luther, the hero of Worms, the champion of the sacred rights of conscience, was, in words, the most violent, but in practice, the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/luther-the-hero-of-worms-the-champion-of-the-sacred-rights-of/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Henry Hazlitt > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Government can't give us anything without depriving us of something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/government-can-t-give-us-anything-without-depriving-us-of-something/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [When the government makes loans or subsidies to business, what it does is to tax successful private business in order to support unsuccessful private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-the-government-makes-loans-or-subsidies-to-business-what-it-does/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“The analysis of our illustrations has taught us another incidental lesson. This is that, when we study the effects of various proposals, not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-analysis-of-our-illustrations-has-taught-us-another-incidental/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [There is a profound contrast between the effects of foreign aid and of voluntary private investment: foreign aid goes from government to government. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/there-is-a-profound-contrast-between-the-effects-of-foreign-aid-and/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [The mounting burden of taxation not only undermines individual incentives to increased work and earnings, but in a score of ways discourages capital accumulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-mounting-burden-of-taxation-not-only-undermines-individual/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Multiculturalism means your kid has to learn some wretched tribal dirge for the school holiday concert instead of getting to sing 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/multiculturalism-means-your-kid-has-to-learn-some-wretched-tribal/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [It is possible to increase paper-money income to any amount by debasing the currency. But real income can only be increased by working harder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-possible-to-increase-paper-money-income-to-any-amount-by/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Inflation makes the extension of socialism possible by providing the financial chaos in which it flourishes. The fact is that socialism and inflation are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/inflation-makes-the-extension-of-socialism-possible-by-providing-the/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“the desperate need to get back to normal housing and other living conditions stimulated increased efforts. But this does not mean that property destruction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-desperate-need-to-get-back-to-normal-housing-and-other-living/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Yet it ought to be clear that a minimum wage law is, at best, a limited weapon for combatting the evil of low wages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/yet-it-ought-to-be-clear-that-a-minimum-wage-law-is-at-best-a-limited/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“It is a misconception to think of the function or result of machines as primarily one of creating jobs . The real result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-a-misconception-to-think-of-the-function-or-result-of-machines/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [A certain amount of taxes is of course indispensable to carry on essential government functions. Reasonable taxes for this purpose need not hurt production…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/a-certain-amount-of-taxes-is-of-course-indispensable-to-carry-on/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [A vital function of the free market is to penalize inefficiency and misjudgment and to reward efficiency and good judgment. By distorting economic calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/a-vital-function-of-the-free-market-is-to-penalize-inefficiency-and/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“when personal incomes are taxed 50, 60 or 70 percent. People begin to ask themselves why they should work six, eight or nine months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-personal-incomes-are-taxed-50-60-or-70-percent-people-begin-to/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) [Explore all 148 Henry Hazlitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) ## More Long run quotes > [“Polarization (and Trumpism) is in itself a kind of political crisis. But all of this would be fine in the long run, if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanzi-freinacht/polarization-and-trumpism-is-in-itself-a-kind-of-political-crisis-but/) [Hanzi Freinacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanzi-freinacht/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“And in the long run, research shows that the mistakes we regret are not errors of commission, but errors of omission. If we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/and-in-the-long-run-research-shows-that-the-mistakes-we-regret-are/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Stop spending money to be nominated for worthless awards with no substance and no worth to your career. If you have to spend money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-weisman/stop-spending-money-to-be-nominated-for-worthless-awards-with-no/) [Loren Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-weisman/) > [“In 1962, Democratic President John F. Kennedy, like both Democratic and Republican Presidents and Secretaries of the Treasury in earlier years, pointed out that “it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-1962-democratic-president-john-f-kennedy-like-both-democratic-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Reification, the essential tendency of capitalism, can never be wholly realized. If it were, if the system were actually able to change individuals into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-castoriadis/reification-the-essential-tendency-of-capitalism-can-never-be-wholly/) [Cornelius Castoriadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-castoriadis/) > [“And it was then that the things I've never liked to talk about began. Not that they were particularly terrible; I've no wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-was-then-that-the-things-i-ve-never-liked-to-talk-about-began/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Joy is something you can experience even when life is not pleasurable. Even in the midst of a long run, when your legs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/joy-is-something-you-can-experience-even-when-life-is-not-pleasurable/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [An obstacle is often a stepping stone... Things that appear to be obstacles are often helpful in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/an-obstacle-is-often-a-stepping-stone-things-that-appear-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [For many oppositional movements, the Internet, while providing the opportunity to distribute information more quickly and cheaper, may have actually made their struggle more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/for-many-oppositional-movements-the-internet-while-providing-the/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-cost-of-a-thing-is-the-amount-of-what-i-will-call-life-which-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Same old Caleb who wanted to love and be loved. Same boring Caleb who wanted a serious relationship. A live-in boyfriend. A guarantee, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/same-old-caleb-who-wanted-to-love-and-be-loved-same-boring-caleb-who/) [Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/) > [“So, whenever you find yourself putting forth great effort without success, you're trying to force something that won't fit under the circumstances. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vigorito/so-whenever-you-find-yourself-putting-forth-great-effort-without/) [Tony Vigorito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-vigorito/) [Browse all 1,390 Long run quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who cannot accept their proposals is not their greater philanthropy, but their greater impatience. The question is not whether we wish to see everybody as well off as possible. Among men of good will such an aim can be taken for granted. The real question concerns the proper means of achieving it. And in trying to answer this we must never lose sight of a few elementary truisms. We cannot distribute more wealth than is created. We cannot in the long run pay labor as a whole more than it produces.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Hazlitt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-to-point-out-that-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Long run" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-to-point-out-that-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/henry-hazlitt-2839_long-run_this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-t_23495.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who…” — Henry Hazlitt", "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": "Henry Hazlitt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This is perhaps as good a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-to-point-out-that-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-to-point-out-that-what/#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 } } ] } ```