--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not quite sure what the advantage is…" description: "\"I am not quite sure what the advantage is in having a few more dollars to spend if the air is too dirty to breathe, the water too polluted to drink, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_advantage_i-am-not-quite-sure-what-the-advantage-i_1852997.jpg" --- # I am not quite sure what the advantage is in having a few… ![“I am not quite sure what the advantage is in having a few more dollars to spend if the air is too dirty to breathe, the water too polluted to drink, the commuters are losing out in the struggle to get in and out of the city, the streets are filthy, and the schools so bad that the young perhaps…” quote by John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_advantage_i-am-not-quite-sure-what-the-advantage-i_1852997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_advantage_i-am-not-quite-sure-what-the-advantage-i_1852997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_advantage_i-am-not-quite-sure-what-the-advantage-i_1852997.jpg) > “I am not quite sure what the advantage is in having a few more dollars to spend if the air is too dirty to breathe, the water too polluted to drink, the commuters are losing out in the struggle to get in and out of the city, the streets are filthy, and the schools so bad that the young perhaps wisely stay away, and the hoodlums roll citizens for some of the dollars they saved in the tax cut.” [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth is meaningless if basic environmental and social conditions are poor; economic gains must translate into livable conditions for all. **In simple terms:** Money means nothing without clean air, water, safe streets, good schools. Key Takeaway Prioritize public health and environment over tax cuts. Themes environment economics social justice public policy urban life Mood concerned critical reflective Type political social When to use this quote - city planning - tax policy - education reform - environmental regulation - community safety Key Concepts externalities public goods income inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance fiscal policy with environmental health? - What policies ensure tax cuts don’t harm public services? A Different Perspective Higher taxes may fund essential services but can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Losing out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-out/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Tax cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-cuts/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [I'm kidding about having only a few dollars. I might have a few dollars more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-m-kidding-about-having-only-a-few-dollars-i-might-have-a-few/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [If I had a million dollars I would spend every penny on you, Believe me, if I truly love you I would do that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dub-tepper/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-would-spend-every-penny-on-you-believe/) DUB$TEPPER > [I guess if I had fifty million dollars I could spend more time at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/i-guess-if-i-had-fifty-million-dollars-i-could-spend-more-time-at-home/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [One in three Canadian teens are bullied. That's nearly two million young Canadians who are teased and excluded. Nearly two million who are silenced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-desman/one-in-three-canadian-teens-are-bullied-that-s-nearly-two-million/) Shawn Desman > [ \[The internet has\] already had a huge impact in the sports world, and the play-by-play guys that are not paying attention to it are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-eagle/the-internet-has-already-had-a-huge-impact-in-the-sports-world-and/) Ian Eagle > [As a species, we're not only wired to choose today over tomorrow, but we hate to feel like we're losing out on something. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/as-a-species-we-re-not-only-wired-to-choose-today-over-tomorrow-but/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [In the past I was very open and very generous, and I found that it just exploded in my face. A lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/in-the-past-i-was-very-open-and-very-generous-and-i-found-that-it/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Somehow, something is always suffering. Someone is always losing out somehow. If you pick one kid up, you're not picking the other one up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/somehow-something-is-always-suffering-someone-is-always-losing-out/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [You are losing out because Mexican rapists are taking your job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/you-are-losing-out-because-mexican-rapists-are-taking-your-job/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [We focus on that really repulsive minority of racists. But then there's a continuum that goes all the way to, you know, what used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/we-focus-on-that-really-repulsive-minority-of-racists-but-then-there/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Every one is special. Especially after the disappointment of last year, losing out on the last day, it is a great achievement by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/every-one-is-special-especially-after-the-disappointment-of-last-year/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [“Failing may not necessarily mean you're losing out - it may be your defining moment. So, dare to fail forward!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olawale-daniel/failing-may-not-necessarily-mean-you-re-losing-out-it-may-be-your/) [Olawale Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olawale-daniel/) > [But if we play it safe, the problem is that we may be losing out, and I believe we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-chaitin/but-if-we-play-it-safe-the-problem-is-that-we-may-be-losing-out-and-i/) [Gregory Chaitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-chaitin/) > [Sure, you can choose the safety and predictability of the cage, forfeiting the adventure God has destined for you. But you won't be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/sure-you-can-choose-the-safety-and-predictability-of-the-cage/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [It's important to recognize your own self-destructive behavior and be honest about it. You're only hurting yourself or losing out on your truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/it-s-important-to-recognize-your-own-self-destructive-behavior-and-be/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) ## More by John Kenneth Galbraith > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“Men can labor to make sense out of single steps toward the goal without ever pausing to reflect that the goal itself is ludicrous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/men-can-labor-to-make-sense-out-of-single-steps-toward-the-goal/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [That one never need to look beyond the love of money for explanation of human behavior is one of the most jealously guarded simplification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/that-one-never-need-to-look-beyond-the-love-of-money-for-explanation/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Agriculture is one economic activity that does not obey the laws of demand and supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/agriculture-is-one-economic-activity-that-does-not-obey-the-laws-of/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [If we were not in Vietnam, all that part of the world would be enjoying the obscurity it so richly deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/if-we-were-not-in-vietnam-all-that-part-of-the-world-would-be/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Washington is a place where men praise courage and act on elaborate personal cost-benefit calculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/washington-is-a-place-where-men-praise-courage-and-act-on-elaborate/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [World War II revealed two of the enduring features of the Keynesian Revolution. One was the moral difference between spending for welfare and spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/world-war-ii-revealed-two-of-the-enduring-features-of-the-keynesian/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Money is what fueled the industrial society. But in the informational society, the fuel, the power, is knowledge. One has now come to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/money-is-what-fueled-the-industrial-society-but-in-the-informational/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [While it will be desirable to achieve planned results, it will be even more important to avoid unplanned disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/while-it-will-be-desirable-to-achieve-planned-results-it-will-be-even/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [A bad book is the worse that it cannot repent. It has not been the devil's policy to keep the masses of mankind in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/a-bad-book-is-the-worse-that-it-cannot-repent-it-has-not-been-the/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Genius is a rising stock market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/genius-is-a-rising-stock-market/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Mr. David Stockman has said that supply-side economics was merely a cover for the trickle-down approach to economic policy—what an older and less elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/mr-david-stockman-has-said-that-supply-side-economics-was-merely-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Inventions that are not made, like babies that are not born, are rarely missed. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. 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