Business Quote by Jean Chretien
“It is not the government's purpose to make a profit the way a company does, because a company doesn't have to give a damn about the unemployed poor or provide services that are non-commercial by definition.”
About This Quote
The speaker argues that governments differ fundamentally from profit‑driven companies because they must serve public needs, not chase earnings.
In simple terms: Governments exist to serve people, not to make profit.
Key Takeaway
Public service vs. profit motive.
Themes
government
profit
public welfare
economics
Mood
critical
serious
Type
political commentary
When to use this quote
- policy debates on subsidies
- public health funding
- social safety nets
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical obligations
Practical Applications
- Design non‑profit public programs
- Prioritize citizen well‑being in budgeting
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should constrain government profit‑seeking?
- How can profit motives be balanced with public duty?
A Different Perspective
Governments may still act in self‑interest, compromising public goals.
![“[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, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)