--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more important point, however, is not…" description: "\"The more important point, however, is not about what the money does. It's about what has to be done to get the money. The effect of the money might be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg" --- # The more important point, however, is not about what the… ![“The more important point, however, is not about what the money does. It's about what has to be done to get the money. The effect of the money might be (democratically) benign. But what is done to secure that money is not necessarily benign. To miss this point is to betray the Robin Hood fallacy…” quote by Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg) > “The more important point, however, is not about what the money does. It's about what has to be done to get the money. The effect of the money might be (democratically) benign. But what is done to secure that money is not necessarily benign. To miss this point is to betray the Robin Hood fallacy: the fact that the loot was distributed justly doesn't excuse the means taken to secure it.” [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The morality of acquiring money matters more than its use; ethical means are essential regardless of outcomes. **In simple terms:** How you get money matters more than what you do with it. Key Takeaway Focus on ethical acquisition. Themes ethics money power politics Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - charitable fundraising - corporate profit - government budgeting Key Concepts Robin Hood fallacy means vs ends Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden costs of your financial goals? - How can we ensure ethical means in wealth creation? A Different Perspective Even benign outcomes can’t justify unethical methods. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benign/) [Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Effect Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect-money-4322197/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fallacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallacy/) [Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hood/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Loot Distributed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loot-distributed-4322199/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Democratically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-democratically-4322196/) [Money Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-effect-4322198/) [Robin hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robin-hood/) [Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robins/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Secure Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure-money-3700834/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) ## Related quotes > [“No kind of social system can make you more happier and secure than your own money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/no-kind-of-social-system-can-make-you-more-happier-and-secure-than/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Nothing is so secure as that money will not defeat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-so-secure-as-that-money-will-not-defeat-it/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Money is just padding. It can be used to shelter you from some things, but there’s no sheltering from other things like love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tijan/money-is-just-padding-it-can-be-used-to-shelter-you-from-some-things/) [Tijan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tijan/) > [But if in the pursuit of the means we should unfortunately stumble again on unfunded paper money or any similar species of fraud, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/but-if-in-the-pursuit-of-the-means-we-should-unfortunately-stumble/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Don't do something just for the money. Money is a side effect of persistence. You persist in things you are interested in. Explore your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/don-t-do-something-just-for-the-money-money-is-a-side-effect-of/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [In P7, I played Robin in a musical version of 'Robin Hood' and afterwards DO McLean was standing with mum and dad and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/in-p7-i-played-robin-in-a-musical-version-of-robin-hood-and/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [My agent asked if I fancied Robin Hood and I thought: 'Yeah, why not?' I hadn't watched it, to be honest, but I'd seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-froggatt/my-agent-asked-if-i-fancied-robin-hood-and-i-thought-yeah-why-not-i/) [Joanne Froggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-froggatt/) > [A famous man is Robin Hood, The English ballad-singer's joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/a-famous-man-is-robin-hood-the-english-ballad-singer-s-joy/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I wrote my first play when I was nine, it was about Robin Hood, from Maid Marian's point of view. I was a feminist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-drinkwater/i-wrote-my-first-play-when-i-was-nine-it-was-about-robin-hood-from/) [Carol Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-drinkwater/) > [“It's not really fun listening to an insane person. Do you realize that? You're only entertaining yourself. Not much of a host, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lee-knuth/it-s-not-really-fun-listening-to-an-insane-person-do-you-realize-that/) [Jaron Lee Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lee-knuth/) > [Like Robin Hood…Not real, but true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/like-robin-hood-not-real-but-true/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [I always wanted to be Robin Hood or John the Baptist when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-always-wanted-to-be-robin-hood-or-john-the-baptist-when-i-was/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [Most Robin Hood stories are not very exciting. There are not a lot of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farr/most-robin-hood-stories-are-not-very-exciting-there-are-not-a-lot-of/) [David Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farr/) > [“Because if Rob was going to hell, Gamelyn wasn't going to let him go alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tullos-hennig/because-if-rob-was-going-to-hell-gamelyn-wasn-t-going-to-let-him-go/) [J. Tullos Hennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tullos-hennig/) > [“He had danced with fair maidens before, but Odette was different. She was graceful and beautiful, but there was something in her eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/he-had-danced-with-fair-maidens-before-but-odette-was-different-she/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) ## More by Lawrence Lessig > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [As I've indicated, most books go out of print within one year. The same is true of music and film. Commercial culture is sharklike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-i-ve-indicated-most-books-go-out-of-print-within-one-year-the-same/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Code plus law is combining to reduce rights consumers used to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/code-plus-law-is-combining-to-reduce-rights-consumers-used-to-have/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Overregulation corrupts citizens and weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/overregulation-corrupts-citizens-and-weakens-the-rule-of-law/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Power runs with ideas that only the crazy would draw into doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/power-runs-with-ideas-that-only-the-crazy-would-draw-into-doubt/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Remember the refrain: We always build on the past; the past always tries to stop us. Freedom is about stopping the past, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/remember-the-refrain-we-always-build-on-the-past-the-past-always/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Politics is that rare sport where the amateur contest is actually more interesting than the professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/politics-is-that-rare-sport-where-the-amateur-contest-is-actually/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [But, like all metaphoric wars, the copyright wars are not actual conflicts of survival. Or at least, they are not conflicts for survival of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/but-like-all-metaphoric-wars-the-copyright-wars-are-not-actual/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [If the only way a library can offer an Internet exhibit about the New Deal is to hire a lawyer to clear the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/if-the-only-way-a-library-can-offer-an-internet-exhibit-about-the-new/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Some blame the drug companies. I don't. They are corporations. Their managers are ordered by law to make money for the corporation. They push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/some-blame-the-drug-companies-i-don-t-they-are-corporations-their/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [By the time Apple's Macintosh operating system finally falls into the public domain, there will be no machine that could possibly run it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/by-the-time-apple-s-macintosh-operating-system-finally-falls-into-the/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [As more and more citizens express what they think, and defend it in writing, that will change the way people understand public issues. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-more-and-more-citizens-express-what-they-think-and-defend-it-in/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [I think if the copyright regime focuses on the people we are supposed to be helping, the artists and creators, and builds a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-if-the-copyright-regime-focuses-on-the-people-we-are-supposed/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [There is still the illusion that if we could declare corporations are not people or that money is not speech, all would be solved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-is-still-the-illusion-that-if-we-could-declare-corporations-are/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) [Explore all 137 Lawrence Lessig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) ## More Benign quotes > [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/) [Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/) > [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Fame is indeed beautiful and benign and gentle and satisfying, but happiness is something at once tender and brilliant beyond all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/fame-is-indeed-beautiful-and-benign-and-gentle-and-satisfying-but/) [Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/) > [Cultural institutions by and large share one primary objective: herd control. Even when ostensibly benign, their propensity for manipulation, compartmentalization, standardization and suppression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/cultural-institutions-by-and-large-share-one-primary-objective-herd/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/every-single-empire-in-its-official-discourse-has-said-that-it-is-not/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Beneficent spirals, operating by benign feedback, mean that everything needful is not required at once: each individual improvement is beneficial for the whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/beneficent-spirals-operating-by-benign-feedback-mean-that-everything/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I looked up at the mass of signs and stars in the night sky and laid myself open for the first time to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-looked-up-at-the-mass-of-signs-and-stars-in-the-night-sky-and-laid/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Orders can be benign or malign, but the habit of obeying them can become ingrained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/orders-can-be-benign-or-malign-but-the-habit-of-obeying-them-can/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [Intelligence may indeed be a benign influence creating isolated groups of philosopher-kings far apart in the heavens... On the other hand, intelligence may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/intelligence-may-indeed-be-a-benign-influence-creating-isolated/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [Every major player is working on this technology of artificial intelligence. As of now, it's benign... but I would say that the day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bell/every-major-player-is-working-on-this-technology-of-artificial/) [Ted Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bell/) > [Of course, I prefer organic farming to chemical-dependent farming, but sometimes absolutist organic prescriptions go too far. I don't even rule out the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/of-course-i-prefer-organic-farming-to-chemical-dependent-farming-but/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [How do you survive living in a cell knowing you are innocent? Many of those exonerated whom I have met seem to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/how-do-you-survive-living-in-a-cell-knowing-you-are-innocent-many-of/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [Human nature has its fatal weaknesses, but 'love' means embracing the whole of human nature, the bad within the good, the benign within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/qiu-miaojin/human-nature-has-its-fatal-weaknesses-but-love-means-embracing-the/) [Qiu Miaojin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/qiu-miaojin/) [Browse all 210 Benign quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benign/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more important point, however, is not about what the money does. It's about what has to be done to get the money. The effect of the money might be (democratically) benign. But what is done to secure that money is not necessarily benign. To miss this point is to betray the Robin Hood fallacy: the fact that the loot was distributed justly doesn't excuse the means taken to secure it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lawrence Lessig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/the-more-important-point-however-is-not-about-what-the-money-does-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benign" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/the-more-important-point-however-is-not-about-what-the-money-does-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/lawrence-lessig-3201_benign_the-more-important-point-however-is-not_1308650.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more important point, however, is not about what the money does. It's about what has to be done to get…” — Lawrence Lessig", "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": "Lawrence Lessig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The more important point, however, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/the-more-important-point-however-is-not-about-what-the-money-does-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/the-more-important-point-however-is-not-about-what-the-money-does-it/#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 } } ] } ```