--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Should we really let our people starve so…" description: "\"Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.\" — Julius Nyerere" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg" --- # Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our… ![“Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.” quote by Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg) > “Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.” [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing debt repayment over basic human needs is morally wrong and unsustainable. **In simple terms:** People shouldn't starve to pay debts. Key Takeaway Ensure basic needs before financial obligations. Themes ethics economics human rights policy Mood concerned urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - government budgeting - aid distribution - public health - social welfare Key Concepts poverty debt social justice Questions to Reflect On - What policies protect vulnerable populations while managing debt? - How can societies fund debt without harming basic needs? A Different Perspective Balancing fiscal responsibility with humanitarian concerns is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain. That is the only reason why they starve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-starve-because-those-above-them-eat-too-much-tax-grain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When there is not enough to eat, people starve to death. It is better to let half of the people die so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/when-there-is-not-enough-to-eat-people-starve-to-death-it-is-better/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“But now, my people will starve.” “Some might,” Leyers said. “But I answer to a greater authority. Any lack of enthusiasm for this mission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/but-now-my-people-will-starve-some-might-leyers-said-but-i-answer-to/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [Why are millions spent on the war each day, while not a penny is available for ... artists or the poor? Why do people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/why-are-millions-spent-on-the-war-each-day-while-not-a-penny-is/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [“The people starve because those in authority over them devour too many taxes; that is why they starve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-people-starve-because-those-in-authority-over-them-devour-too/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [We will pay the debts by growing and exporting... The only way is to export. The other channel has been exhausted, which is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-fernandez/we-will-pay-the-debts-by-growing-and-exporting-the-only-way-is-to/) [Alberto Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-fernandez/) > [I think what's important to understand is if the United States hits the debt ceiling and is unable to pay its debts, the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-chenault/i-think-what-s-important-to-understand-is-if-the-united-states-hits/) [Kenneth Chenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-chenault/) > [And that's the one thing that people do not understand is that we have very low interest rates and if those go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-quayle/and-that-s-the-one-thing-that-people-do-not-understand-is-that-we/) [Ben Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-quayle/) > [I was not born for courts and great affairs, but I pay my debts, believe and say my prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-was-not-born-for-courts-and-great-affairs-but-i-pay-my-debts/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-pay-its-own-debts-as-it-goes-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is very iniquitous to make me pay my debts - you have no idea of the pain it gives one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-very-iniquitous-to-make-me-pay-my-debts-you-have-no-idea-of-the/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [You are as crooked as a bank robber if you do not pay your debts on time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/you-are-as-crooked-as-a-bank-robber-if-you-do-not-pay-your-debts-on/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [In this business, if you don't pay your debts you're finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/in-this-business-if-you-don-t-pay-your-debts-you-re-finished/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [If debtors can reasonably expect that the government will swoop in from time to time to bail them out, no one has any incentive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/if-debtors-can-reasonably-expect-that-the-government-will-swoop-in/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [The more we get out of the world the less we leave, and in the long run we shall have to pay our debts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/the-more-we-get-out-of-the-world-the-less-we-leave-and-in-the-long/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) ## More by Julius Nyerere > [I have read and re-read the Arusha Declaration and found nothing wrong with it except perhaps replacing a few commas here and there... it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/i-have-read-and-re-read-the-arusha-declaration-and-found-nothing/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [When we were at school we were taught to sing the songs of the Europeans. How many of us were taught the songs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/when-we-were-at-school-we-were-taught-to-sing-the-songs-of-the/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [“ Hay quienes quieren llegar a la luna, mientras nosotros aún estamos tratando de llegar a la aldea”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/hay-quienes-quieren-llegar-a-la-luna-mientras-nosotros-a-n-estamos/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [In Tanzania, it was more than one hundred tribal units which lost their freedom; it was one nation that regained it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/in-tanzania-it-was-more-than-one-hundred-tribal-units-which-lost/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Cooperation and conflict are two sides of the same coin; both arise out of man's relationship with his fellows. The larger the group, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/cooperation-and-conflict-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin-both-arise/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [The greatest contraceptive one can have in the developing world is the knowledge that your children will live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/the-greatest-contraceptive-one-can-have-in-the-developing-world-is/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [We spoke and acted as if, given the opportunity for self-government, we would quickly create utopias. Instead injustice, even tyranny, is rampant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/we-spoke-and-acted-as-if-given-the-opportunity-for-self-government-we/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [If real development is to take place, the people have to be involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/if-real-development-is-to-take-place-the-people-have-to-be-involved/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [The African is not 'Communistic' in his thinking; he is -- if I may coin an expression - 'communitary'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/the-african-is-not-communistic-in-his-thinking-he-is-if-i-may-coin-an/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Decisions made in Washington are more important to us than those made here in Dar es-Salaam. So, maybe my people should be allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/decisions-made-in-washington-are-more-important-to-us-than-those-made/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [We, in Africa, have no more need of being 'converted' to socialism than we have of being 'taught' democracy. Both are rooted in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/we-in-africa-have-no-more-need-of-being-converted-to-socialism-than/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [If a door is shut, attempts should be made to open it; if it is ajar, it should be pushed until it is wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/if-a-door-is-shut-attempts-should-be-made-to-open-it-if-it-is-ajar-it/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Education is not a way to escape poverty, it is a way of fighting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/education-is-not-a-way-to-escape-poverty-it-is-a-way-of-fighting-it/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [“The education provided must therefore encourage the development in each citizen of three things; an inquiring mind; and ability to learn from what others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/the-education-provided-must-therefore-encourage-the-development-in/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Freedom to many means immediate betterment, as if by magic. Unless I can meet at least some of these aspirations, my support will wane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/freedom-to-many-means-immediate-betterment-as-if-by-magic-unless-i/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) [Explore all 27 Julius Nyerere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]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,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julius Nyerere" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/julius-nyerere-22600_business_should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-s_376930.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.” — Julius Nyerere", "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": "Julius Nyerere", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Should we really let our people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/#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 } } ] } ```