--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Building on the public's unwillingness to…" description: "\"Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle in support of market solutions to apparent problems, whether real or imagined, these interes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg" --- # Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle… ![“Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle in support of market solutions to apparent problems, whether real or imagined, these interest groups secure arbitrary restrictions on voluntary exchanges and, in the process, secure rents for their members while reducing both the liberties…” quote by James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg) > “Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle in support of market solutions to apparent problems, whether real or imagined, these interest groups secure arbitrary restrictions on voluntary exchanges and, in the process, secure rents for their members while reducing both the liberties and economic well being of other members of the economic nexus, both domestically and internationally.” [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Interest groups exploit public inertia to impose restrictions, gaining rents while limiting freedom and welfare. **In simple terms:** Groups use public inaction to gain benefits at others' expense. Key Takeaway Beware of hidden rent‑seeking in policy. Themes economics public policy rent seeking liberty Mood critical analytical Type theoretical political When to use this quote - legislative drafting - policy analysis - advocacy campaigns Key Concepts public choice theory regulatory capture market freedom Questions to Reflect On - What incentives drive these groups? - How can transparency reduce rent seeking? A Different Perspective Complex arguments may oversimplify motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Interest groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest-groups/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Liberties Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberties-economic-4052046/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Nexus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nexus/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-philosophy/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Public Unwillingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-unwillingness-4052043/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing/) [Reducing Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing-liberties-4052044/) [Restriction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restriction/) [Restrictions Voluntary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restrictions-voluntary-4052045/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Voluntary Exchanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voluntary-exchanges-541223/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Free-market capitalism is a network of free and voluntary exchanges in which producers work, produce, and exchange their products for the products of others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/free-market-capitalism-is-a-network-of-free-and-voluntary-exchanges/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [The role of business is to provide products and services that make people's live better - while using fewer resources - and to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/the-role-of-business-is-to-provide-products-and-services-that-make/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [Belief in the causal nexus is superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/belief-in-the-causal-nexus-is-superstition/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [What we are seeking is the nexus of all possible worlds and states of mind, which is within us. The source of yin and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-we-are-seeking-is-the-nexus-of-all-possible-worlds-and-states-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-bourgeoisie-wherever-it-has-got-the-upper-hand-has-put-an-end-to-2/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Long ago, during my apprenticeship in the wine trade, I learned that wine is more than the sum of its parts, and more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-asher/long-ago-during-my-apprenticeship-in-the-wine-trade-i-learned-that/) [Gerald Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-asher/) > [I think Nexus is one of the favorite periods of my career, and I think we had a lot of success, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-barrett/i-think-nexus-is-one-of-the-favorite-periods-of-my-career-and-i-think/) [Wade Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-barrett/) > [Each individual in a society is a nexus where innumerable relationships of this character intersect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/each-individual-in-a-society-is-a-nexus-where-innumerable/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Music and visual performance have to influence each other. Designers and musicians have to be the nexus of all things pop culture, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/music-and-visual-performance-have-to-influence-each-other-designers/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Cash-payment is not the sole nexus of man with man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/cash-payment-is-not-the-sole-nexus-of-man-with-man/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Allow me to correct you on two things: number one, the reason John Cena isn't here tonight has nothing to do with you. John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-barrett/allow-me-to-correct-you-on-two-things-number-one-the-reason-john-cena/) [Wade Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-barrett/) > [I'm always looking for a nexus, where you can put all these diverse people together, see how they respond to one another, see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenji-kohan/i-m-always-looking-for-a-nexus-where-you-can-put-all-these-diverse/) [Jenji Kohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenji-kohan/) > [I knew I wanted to do something at the nexus of what I call global development and technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughes/i-knew-i-wanted-to-do-something-at-the-nexus-of-what-i-call-global/) [Chris Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughes/) > [If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-there-s-a-bookshelf-i/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/while-society-cannot-provide-employment-for-its-members-the/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) ## More by James M. Buchanan > [Politicians and bureaucrats are no different from the rest of us. They will maximize their incentives just like everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/politicians-and-bureaucrats-are-no-different-from-the-rest-of-us-they/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [Politics is a romantic search for the good and the true and the beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/politics-is-a-romantic-search-for-the-good-and-the-true-and-the/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [People share a universal behavioural trait: if there are profits to be made, the effort to get that money will attract investment. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/people-share-a-universal-behavioural-trait-if-there-are-profits-to-be/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [If you have an area where high-income receivers concentrate, you have a higher fiscal capacity. That fiscal capacity is a valuable resource and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/if-you-have-an-area-where-high-income-receivers-concentrate-you-have/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [How would the US be different today if people coming off the boat were greeted with a welfare check instead of a shovel?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/how-would-the-us-be-different-today-if-people-coming-off-the-boat/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [“The elementary and basic approach that I suggest places “the theory of markets” and not the “theory of resource allocation” at center stage. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/the-elementary-and-basic-approach-that-i-suggest-places-the-theory-of/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [It is much more difficult to get implemented politically what might be desirable economically. Even if you came out with an economic argument in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/it-is-much-more-difficult-to-get-implemented-politically-what-might/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [You can get a coalition of senators from particular states in America, for example, who want to construct highways or dams or ports which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/you-can-get-a-coalition-of-senators-from-particular-states-in-america/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [“Despotism may be the only organizational alternative to the political structure that we observe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/despotism-may-be-the-only-organizational-alternative-to-the-political/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [Imagine that Queen Elizabeth I, in her time, had the opportunity to give out a monopoly for playing cards within the kingdom. She knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/imagine-that-queen-elizabeth-i-in-her-time-had-the-opportunity-to/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [You have to have a government to provide you with legal order, with stability, enforcement of property rights, enforcement of contracts, definition of rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/you-have-to-have-a-government-to-provide-you-with-legal-order-with/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [The assumption that we can keep societies open and free to everybody is going to have to stop. We are going to have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/the-assumption-that-we-can-keep-societies-open-and-free-to-everybody/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [If you are going to spend for one group, you have to spend the same for every group, just like if you tax one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/if-you-are-going-to-spend-for-one-group-you-have-to-spend-the-same/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [Liberals have lost the soul. We haven't recognized the necessity of defending our own system at the level of ideas. We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/liberals-have-lost-the-soul-we-haven-t-recognized-the-necessity-of/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [I think the world has changed dramatically since September 11th. It should force us to recognize that we are going to have to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/i-think-the-world-has-changed-dramatically-since-september-11th-it/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) [Explore all 27 James M. Buchanan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle in support of market solutions to apparent problems, whether real or imagined, these interest groups secure arbitrary restrictions on voluntary exchanges and, in the process, secure rents for their members while reducing both the liberties and economic well being of other members of the economic nexus, both domestically and internationally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James M. Buchanan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-to-act-on-principle-in-support/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arbitrary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-to-act-on-principle-in-support/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/james-m-buchanan-22792_arbitrary_building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-t_2079140.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Building on the public's unwillingness to act on principle in support of market solutions to apparent…” — James M. Buchanan", "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 M. Buchanan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Building on the public's unwillingness to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-to-act-on-principle-in-support/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/building-on-the-public-s-unwillingness-to-act-on-principle-in-support/#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 } } ] } ```