---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a vain hope to believe that people…"
description: "\"It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily turn their back on government subsidies.\" — James Cook"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg"
---

#  It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily…

![“It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily turn their back on government subsidies.” quote by James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg)

> “It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily turn their back on government subsidies.”

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

## About This Quote

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

People are unlikely to abandon government subsidies voluntarily because such support is entrenched and often essential for many.

**In simple terms:** People won't quit subsidies on their own.

Key Takeaway

Consider reforms that align incentives.

Themes

economics policy human behavior dependency

Mood

skeptical analytical pragmatic

Type

policy analysis economic critique

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- social welfare programs
- political campaigns

Key Concepts

subsidy dependence voluntary action public welfare

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives can replace subsidies?
- How do subsidies affect different socioeconomic groups?

A Different Perspective

Assumes all subsidies are harmful without nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Subsidies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/)

## Related quotes

> [China's idea of fair trade is government subsidies of its textile and apparel exports to the United States, currency manipulation, and forgiveness of loans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-foxx/china-s-idea-of-fair-trade-is-government-subsidies-of-its-textile-and/)

[Virginia Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-foxx/)

> [Government subsidies can be critically analyzed according to a simple principle: You are smarter than the government, so when the government pays you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/government-subsidies-can-be-critically-analyzed-according-to-a-simple/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [We've seen the government give out subsidies to companies, those companies turn around and use it for executive bonuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-scheer/we-ve-seen-the-government-give-out-subsidies-to-companies-those/)

[Andrew Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-scheer/)

> [When corporations get special handouts from the government, subsidies and tax breaks, it costs you. It means you have to pay more in taxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/when-corporations-get-special-handouts-from-the-government-subsidies/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [The American Dream, coupled with government subsidies of utilities and cheap consumer goods courtesy of slave labour somewhere else, has kept the poor huddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/the-american-dream-coupled-with-government-subsidies-of-utilities-and/)

[Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/)

> [As the contest proceeded, public interest increased and the entire country watched to see which company would win the big government subsidies through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-moody/as-the-contest-proceeded-public-interest-increased-and-the-entire/)

[John Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-moody/)

> [Government subsidies to elite private universities take the form of tax deductions for people who make charitable contributions to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/government-subsidies-to-elite-private-universities-take-the-form-of/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [It is in vain to hope to please all alike. Let a man stand with his face in what direction he will, he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-in-vain-to-hope-to-please-all-alike-let-a-man-stand-with-his/)

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

> [Now, we don't get rid of it in round one because we don't think that that's politically smart, and we don't think that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/now-we-don-t-get-rid-of-it-in-round-one-because-we-don-t-think-that/)

[Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/)

> [Across energy, food, transportation, housing, and all of that, very little of our progress is going to be through getting people to voluntarily consume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/across-energy-food-transportation-housing-and-all-of-that-very-little/)

[Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/)

> [People are voluntarily giving money to A.E.I. - there is no government money - because they think the work we do is valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/people-are-voluntarily-giving-money-to-a-e-i-there-is-no-government/)

[Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/)

> [“Never turn your back on government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-montgomery/never-turn-your-back-on-government/)

Gerald Montgomery

> [I believed the only thing that could turn around this government spending and mounting debt would be if the people rose up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/i-believed-the-only-thing-that-could-turn-around-this-government/)

[Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/)

> [We have been waiting for you so that we could turn over the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duong-van-minh/we-have-been-waiting-for-you-so-that-we-could-turn-over-the-government/)

Duong Van Minh

> [ \[In ancient Rome,\] why did the senate after killing Caesar turn around and give the government to his nephew? Why did France after they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/in-ancient-rome-why-did-the-senate-after-killing-caesar-turn-around/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

## More by James Cook

> [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Gasahol is socialism's fuel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/gasahol-is-socialism-s-fuel/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Why is it so hard to see that when America had high savings, low taxes and minimal government, the economy grew like a week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/why-is-it-so-hard-to-see-that-when-america-had-high-savings-low-taxes/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [The longer people receive economic assistance, the worse their social condition and behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-longer-people-receive-economic-assistance-the-worse-their-social/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Knaves will come and knaves will go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/knaves-will-come-and-knaves-will-go/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Whatever you subsidize you get more of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/whatever-you-subsidize-you-get-more-of/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Once you're in heaven it makes no difference when you got there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/once-you-re-in-heaven-it-makes-no-difference-when-you-got-there/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Liberals have one solution for every economic issue; eat the seed corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/liberals-have-one-solution-for-every-economic-issue-eat-the-seed-corn/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Hardly anything works out as well as we hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/hardly-anything-works-out-as-well-as-we-hope/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Those who live off of the donations of capitalism are often its greatest critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/those-who-live-off-of-the-donations-of-capitalism-are-often-its/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Let one state in the U.S. be free of government and overnight you would have an economic powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/let-one-state-in-the-u-s-be-free-of-government-and-overnight-you/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [The more noteworthy a person's achievements, the more government agents are attracted to investigating that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-more-noteworthy-a-person-s-achievements-the-more-government/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Throughout history government has seldom hesitated from robbing its citizens in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/throughout-history-government-has-seldom-hesitated-from-robbing-its/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Employers know the nature of people best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/employers-know-the-nature-of-people-best/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

[Explore all 197 James Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily turn their back on government subsidies.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Cook"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people-will-voluntarily-turn-their/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people-will-voluntarily-turn-their/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/james-cook-1930_believe_it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people_3215539.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's a vain hope to believe that people will voluntarily turn their back on government subsidies.” — James Cook",
                "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": "James Cook",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's a vain hope to believe...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people-will-voluntarily-turn-their/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/it-s-a-vain-hope-to-believe-that-people-will-voluntarily-turn-their/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
