Roads Quote by Herman E. Talmadge
““It's a funny thing about roads, though. You can hardly ever make them pay off. Say you've got ten roads that need paving, and you can only pave nine. The folks on that nine that you pave aren't grateful because they figure they've got it coming. But those on that one you don't will never forgive you.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1915 public address by Herman E. Talmadge, political figure
He uses a road‑paving metaphor to illustrate the difficulty of satisfying everyone; those helped may feel entitled, those ignored may resent.
In simple terms: Helping some can breed resentment; neglect fuels unforgiveness.
Key Takeaway
Balance assistance to avoid resentment.
Themes
leadership
resource allocation
justice
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
ethical
pragmatic
When to use this quote
- infrastructure projects
- community aid
- budget constraints
- political promises
Key Concepts
ethical decision‑making
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you prioritize limited resources?
- What strategies mitigate resentment from unmet expectations?
A Different Perspective
Resources are limited; fairness is subjective.
![“Many men have a passion for food or drink or sex or making money. For Lyndon [Johnson] it was politics. It was his natural element, what literally kept him alive.” quote by Herman E. Talmadge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/54d/herman-e-talmadge-28615_lyndon-johnson_many-men-have-a-passion-for-food-or-drin_622385.jpg)
