---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never ever do business with the…"
description: "\"Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.\" — Jack Ma"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg"
---

#  Never ever do business with the government. Be in love…

![“Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.” quote by Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg)

> “Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.”

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Warns against over-reliance on government contracts, suggesting they can be restrictive and risky for private enterprises.

**In simple terms:** Caution about government partnerships.

Key Takeaway

Avoid entanglement with state bureaucracy.

Themes

risk autonomy business strategy politics trust

Mood

skeptical pragmatic

Type

advice cautionary

When to use this quote

- startup seeking funding
- company negotiating public tenders
- entrepreneur evaluating market entry
- business expanding internationally
- venture capital assessment

Key Concepts

government contracts private sector dependency regulation

Practical Applications

- strategic partnership planning
- risk management analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- How can a business maintain independence while engaging with public sector opportunities?
- What safeguards can mitigate the downsides of government contracts?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [If the customer loves you, the government will have to love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-the-customer-loves-you-the-government-will-have-to-love-you/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [The government cannot love you, and any politics that works on a different assumption is destined for no good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-government-cannot-love-you-and-any-politics-that-works-on-a/)

[Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/)

> [No government can love a child, and no policy can substitute for a family's care. But at the same time, government can either support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/no-government-can-love-a-child-and-no-policy-can-substitute-for-a/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [“I don't have a ring. I don't have a pretty speech prepared. All I know is that I love you more than life itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/i-don-t-have-a-ring-i-don-t-have-a-pretty-speech-prepared-all-i-know/)

[Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/)

> [The one that you love never marry to them - is the one who love you they gonna make you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-samuel/the-one-that-you-love-never-marry-to-them-is-the-one-who-love-you/)

[Brandon Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-samuel/)

> [When ever we are together, I never want to say goodbye and most of all I never want to say good night without being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-serendipity-dixon/when-ever-we-are-together-i-never-want-to-say-goodbye-and-most-of-all/)

[Patricia Serendipity Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-serendipity-dixon/)

> [Any one must see at a glance that if men and women marry those whom they do not love, they must love those whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/any-one-must-see-at-a-glance-that-if-men-and-women-marry-those-whom/)

[Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/)

> [“P.S. If any boy ever asks for my hand in marriage, show him #4. I’m in love. I’d marry a pirate for a ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-dodd/p-s-if-any-boy-ever-asks-for-my-hand-in-marriage-show-him-4-i-m-in/)

[Jillian Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-dodd/)

> [“She angled her chin proudly. “Very well. If you insist. I’ve come to invite you to my wedding.” He shook his head sadly. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/she-angled-her-chin-proudly-very-well-if-you-insist-i-ve-come-to/)

[Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/)

> [“Find a profession you love, marry the right person, and love your family unconditionally. Believe in yourself, and don’t listen too much to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-andrews/find-a-profession-you-love-marry-the-right-person-and-love-your/)

[David Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-andrews/)

> [“There are so many reasons I could list as to why I want you in my life and the three most important are I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-fiore/there-are-so-many-reasons-i-could-list-as-to-why-i-want-you-in-my/)

[L.A. Fiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-fiore/)

> [You love someone, you marry someone else. The one you marry becomes your wife or husband. And the one you love becomes the password…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/you-love-someone-you-marry-someone-else-the-one-you-marry-becomes/)

[Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/)

> [It is most unwise for people in love to marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-is-most-unwise-for-people-in-love-to-marry/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Damn they sexy as hell I love them I would marry them haha :D &lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/damn-they-sexy-as-hell-i-love-them-i-would-marry-them-haha-d-3/)

[Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/)

> [“Can the future hsitory of the world be so fragile that it will not allow two high school teachers to meet and fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/can-the-future-hsitory-of-the-world-be-so-fragile-that-it-will-not/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

## More by Jack Ma

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [The world will not remember what you say, but it will certainly not forget what you have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-world-will-not-remember-what-you-say-but-it-will-certainly-not/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [Only fools use their mouth to speak. A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/only-fools-use-their-mouth-to-speak-a-smart-man-uses-his-brain-and-a/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [It's impossible for China to keep 10 to 15% growth annually. The economy needed to slow down, and we have to learn to slow down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/it-s-impossible-for-china-to-keep-10-to-15-growth-annually-the/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [I flunked my exam for university two times before I was accepted by what was considered my city's worst university, Hangzhou Teachers University. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-flunked-my-exam-for-university-two-times-before-i-was-accepted-by/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [China's government is so strong on investment, so strong on exporting, but they're too weak on domestic consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/china-s-government-is-so-strong-on-investment-so-strong-on-exporting/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [If the 'Post' can play the role of a connector between the West and the East, I have confidence in the paper's future success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-the-post-can-play-the-role-of-a-connector-between-the-west-and-the/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [I know nothing about technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-know-nothing-about-technology/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/today-is-cruel-tomorrow-is-crueller-and-the-day-after-tomorrow-is/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [30% of all people will never believe you. Do not allow your colleagues and employees to work for you. Instead, let them work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/30-of-all-people-will-never-believe-you-do-not-allow-your-colleagues/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [If you want to invest in us, we believe customer number one, employee number two, shareholder number three. If they don't want to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-want-to-invest-in-us-we-believe-customer-number-one-employee/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-give-up-today-is-hard-tomorrow-will-be-worse-but-the-day-after/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [A great opportunity is often hard to be explained clearly; things that can be explained clearly are often not the best opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/a-great-opportunity-is-often-hard-to-be-explained-clearly-things-that/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [The customer is number one, the employee is number two and the shareholder is number three. If the customer is happy, the business is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/the-customer-is-number-one-the-employee-is-number-two-and-the/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [I think young generation is always better than last generation. No matter you like it or don't like it. My father said, 'Jack, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-think-young-generation-is-always-better-than-last-generation-no/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

[Explore all 185 Jack Ma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Ma"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/jack-ma-2112_business_never-ever-do-business-with-the-governme_45038.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.” — Jack Ma",
                "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": "Jack Ma",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Never ever do business with the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/never-ever-do-business-with-the-government-be-in-love-with-them-never/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
