--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The larger the disaster, the more…" description: "\"The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.\" — Irwin Redlener" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png" --- # The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have… ![“The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.” quote by Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png) > “The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.” [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Large-scale crises demand coordinated, centralized leadership to mobilize resources and ensure equitable recovery. **In simple terms:** Government leads disaster recovery. Key Takeaway Central coordination is essential in big disasters. Themes Governance Crisis Management Public Policy Equity Resilience Mood Urgent Determined Hopeful Type Policy statement Observation When to use this quote - National emergencies - Natural catastrophes - Pandemic aftermath - Infrastructure collapse Key Concepts Disaster response Resource allocation Leadership Practical Applications - Policy design for emergency response - Strategic planning for recovery Questions to Reflect On - How can governments balance speed with inclusivity? - What mechanisms ensure accountability in large-scale recovery? A Different Perspective Local communities may respond faster and more flexibly than a distant bureaucracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes preventing one disaster creates a much larger disaster in its wake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-huber/sometimes-preventing-one-disaster-creates-a-much-larger-disaster-in/) [K. Huber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-huber/) > [As government imposes the will of a few upon the many, the many begin to resist. Ultimately, it becomes necessary for the government to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/as-government-imposes-the-will-of-a-few-upon-the-many-the-many-begin/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [“In fact, I suspect that our only hope is disaster. Cruel tho' it is to say it, there has got to be a vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/in-fact-i-suspect-that-our-only-hope-is-disaster-cruel-tho-it-is-to/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“When we survey the wretched conditions of man, under the monarchical and hereditary systems of Government, dragged from his home by one power, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-we-survey-the-wretched-conditions-of-man-under-the-monarchical/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Shock is a merciful condition. It allows you to get through disaster with a necessary distance between you and your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/shock-is-a-merciful-condition-it-allows-you-to-get-through-disaster/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Our fifty principal cities contain 39.3 per cent of our entire German population, and 45.8 per cent of the Irish. Our ten larger cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-strong/our-fifty-principal-cities-contain-39-3-per-cent-of-our-entire-german/) [Josiah Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-strong/) > [In reading, you sense the divine: the things that are larger and greater and more mysterious than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-reading-you-sense-the-divine-the-things-that-are-larger-and/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Blackbeard was larger than life. He was 6'4" in 1710. He was a colossus, and like a rock star walking into a bar. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/blackbeard-was-larger-than-life-he-was-6-4-in-1710-he-was-a-colossus/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [“The larger the searchlight, the larger the searchlight of the unknown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-larger-the-searchlight-the-larger-the-searchlight-of-the-unknown/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Synchrotron light has revolutionized the field of protein crystallography. It has made it possible to look at much larger structures with much smaller crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-petsko/synchrotron-light-has-revolutionized-the-field-of-protein/) [Gregory Petsko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-petsko/) > [Is it philosophical, is it quite allowable, to assume without evidence from fossil plants that the family or any of the genera was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-gray/is-it-philosophical-is-it-quite-allowable-to-assume-without-evidence/) [Asa Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-gray/) > [As they grow, companies saturate their markets, become more complex and difficult to manage, and face larger and more entrenched competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/as-they-grow-companies-saturate-their-markets-become-more-complex-and/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) ## More by Irwin Redlener > [Many low-income children face chronic stress from nutritional deprivation or persistent violence at home or in the community. By addressing their medical, emotional and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/many-low-income-children-face-chronic-stress-from-nutritional/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [No organization should be allowed near disaster unless they are willing to cooperate with some level of established leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/no-organization-should-be-allowed-near-disaster-unless-they-are/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [If we ensure access to health care and 'best practice' asthma treatment for children, especially those at high risk, there is the potential to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/if-we-ensure-access-to-health-care-and-best-practice-asthma-treatment/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [The problem with most children's hospitals is that they are passive. They are high quality. They are filled with the best doctors. But their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-problem-with-most-children-s-hospitals-is-that-they-are-passive/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Every single administration in American political history has put cronies and pals and donors into political positions. But normally those people become the ambassador…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/every-single-administration-in-american-political-history-has-put/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [There are several very good websites which describe the details of preparedness planning for citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/there-are-several-very-good-websites-which-describe-the-details-of/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Hospitals are about healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/hospitals-are-about-healing/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [There's detailed information on how to assemble a nuclear weapon from parts. There's books about how to build a nuclear bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/there-s-detailed-information-on-how-to-assemble-a-nuclear-weapon-from/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [There isn't a single American city, in my estimation, that has sufficient plans for a nuclear terrorist event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/there-isn-t-a-single-american-city-in-my-estimation-that-has/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Immigrant children are highly vulnerable. Their level of disadvantage and fragility has consistently grown due to factors outside their control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/immigrant-children-are-highly-vulnerable-their-level-of-disadvantage/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Even the best community organizations and faith-based initiatives and the extraordinary charity of Americans across the country can't carry the brunt of eliminating poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/even-the-best-community-organizations-and-faith-based-initiatives-and/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [There's only so much academic disruption that a young child can deal with before he just can't catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/there-s-only-so-much-academic-disruption-that-a-young-child-can-deal/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Poverty leads to hardship and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/poverty-leads-to-hardship-and-failure/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [President Obama was deeply and clearly affected by the Sandy Hook disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/president-obama-was-deeply-and-clearly-affected-by-the-sandy-hook/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Americans do not have a good track record when it comes to preparing for disasters, unless they see a clear possibility of personally being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/americans-do-not-have-a-good-track-record-when-it-comes-to-preparing/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) [Explore all 34 Irwin Redlener quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) ## More Disaster quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [My mind shrank from the menace sweeping down on us, as children's do from belief in death and misfortune, vainly clinging to the fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-pankhurst/my-mind-shrank-from-the-menace-sweeping-down-on-us-as-children-s-do/) [Sylvia Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-pankhurst/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“She was—of course—perfectly normal— quiet and polite and reasonably intelligent and...normal and self destructive and lonely and terrified of every thing And she loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tah-the-trickster/she-was-of-course-perfectly-normal-quiet-and-polite-and-reasonably/) Tah the Trickster > [Obviously, it's my goal to be the top scorer in the Bundesliga, but it wouldn't be a disaster if I didn't achieve that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gomez/obviously-it-s-my-goal-to-be-the-top-scorer-in-the-bundesliga-but-it/) [Mario Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gomez/) > [Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like a life after a natural disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/yes-life-in-chechnya-so-far-looks-more-like-a-life-after-a-natural/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Even disasters -- there are always disasters when you travel -- can be turned into adventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/even-disasters-there-are-always-disasters-when-you-travel-can-be/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [We are always just one successful terrorist attack away from a nuclear disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/we-are-always-just-one-successful-terrorist-attack-away-from-a/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Architects mostly work for privileged people, people who have money and power, Power and money are invisible, so people hire us to visualize their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-ban/architects-mostly-work-for-privileged-people-people-who-have-money/) [Shigeru Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-ban/) > [The only aspect of our travels that is interesting to others is disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellmanmartha-gellman/the-only-aspect-of-our-travels-that-is-interesting-to-others-is/) Martha GellmanMartha Gellman [Browse all 2,239 Disaster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irwin Redlener" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessary-it-is-to-have-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disaster" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessary-it-is-to-have-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/irwin-redlener-18666_disaster_the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessa_48419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.” — Irwin Redlener", "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": "Irwin Redlener", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The larger the disaster, the more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessary-it-is-to-have-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessary-it-is-to-have-the/#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 } } ] } ```