--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem of how we finance the welfare…" description: "\"The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/jacques-delors-20495_charity_the-problem-of-how-we-finance-the-welfar_1458638.jpg" --- # The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not… ![“The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no matter what happens to the world, that's not equity, it's just creating a society where you can't ask anything of people.” quote by Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/jacques-delors-20495_charity_the-problem-of-how-we-finance-the-welfar_1458638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/jacques-delors-20495_charity_the-problem-of-how-we-finance-the-welfar_1458638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/jacques-delors-20495_charity_the-problem-of-how-we-finance-the-welfar_1458638.jpg) > “The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right to welfare, no matter what happens to the world, that's not equity, it's just creating a society where you can't ask anything of people.” [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Welfare rights shouldn't be seen as absolute; they must balance individual responsibility. **In simple terms:** Welfare isn’t unconditional. Key Takeaway Balance rights with duties. Themes social policy equity responsibility Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy design - social safety nets - public debate Key Concepts rights theory public economics Questions to Reflect On - How to ensure fairness without eroding responsibility? - What limits should be placed on welfare claims? A Different Perspective Rights can be politicized, limiting flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equity/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Welfare state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare-state/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The United States, with the greatest ability and the weakest desire to finance a welfare state, winds up in the middle of the pack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-voegeli/the-united-states-with-the-greatest-ability-and-the-weakest-desire-to/) William Voegeli > [Germany's population is getting older and older and smaller and smaller. 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In the Chalfen lexicon the middle classes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/unlike-many-others-around-this-time-joyce-felt-no-shame-about-using/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [The cradle-to-grave welfare state diminishes individual initiative and can breed a pervasive sclerosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/the-cradle-to-grave-welfare-state-diminishes-individual-initiative/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [“What was shocking were the rewards my father's cousins had gathered in the intervening couple of decades. They farmed now on thousands of acres,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-connors/what-was-shocking-were-the-rewards-my-father-s-cousins-had-gathered/) [Philip Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-connors/) > [The welfare state is the oldest con game in the world. 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In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More by Jacques Delors > [My objective is that before the end of the millennium Europe should have a true federation. The Commission should become a political executive which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/my-objective-is-that-before-the-end-of-the-millennium-europe-should/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [I cannot resign myself to thi decline of Europe, and of France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-cannot-resign-myself-to-thi-decline-of-europe-and-of-france/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [This weakening is worsened by the widening distance between the governed and their governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/this-weakening-is-worsened-by-the-widening-distance-between-the/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-would-not-be-opposed-to-devising-a-new-system-of-pensions-in-which/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [...within ten years 80% of our economic legislation, perhaps even fiscal and social as well' would come from the EU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/within-ten-years-80-of-our-economic-legislation-perhaps-even-fiscal/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [This desire for equity must not lead to an excess of welfare, where nobody is responsible for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/this-desire-for-equity-must-not-lead-to-an-excess-of-welfare-where/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [The European model is, first, a social and economic system founded on the role of the market, for no computer in the world can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-european-model-is-first-a-social-and-economic-system-founded-on/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [The countries that share this conception should be able to go further together, without excluding the others, since they can still live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-countries-that-share-this-conception-should-be-able-to-go-further/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [I cannot resign myself to the decline of Europe, and of France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-cannot-resign-myself-to-the-decline-of-europe-and-of-france/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [If you don't have collective agreements between unions and employers, governments have to legislate more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/if-you-don-t-have-collective-agreements-between-unions-and-employers/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [The unions may continue to decline, but if they do, it'll be their fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-may-continue-to-decline-but-if-they-do-it-ll-be-their-fault/) [Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/) > [Contrary to what people say, my wife never turned me away from the presidency. 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