---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't have a situation in which…"
description: "\"You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a permanent basis relying only on cash from the government.\" — Lawrence Summers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg"
---

#  You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a…

![“You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a permanent basis relying only on cash from the government.” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg)

> “You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a permanent basis relying only on cash from the government.”

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Governments cannot be the sole long‑term funding source for companies; sustainable finance requires private capital.

**In simple terms:** Companies need private money, not just government cash.

Key Takeaway

Diversify funding sources.

Themes

economics public policy finance

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

policy economic

When to use this quote

- startup financing
- public‑private partnerships
- budget planning
- risk management

Key Concepts

sustainability market dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can firms reduce reliance on subsidies?
- What incentives encourage private investment?

A Different Perspective

Government aid may create dependency and reduce efficiency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash/) [Cash Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash-government-1370978/) [Companies Proceed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companies-proceed-2654297/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent/) [Permanent Basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permanent-basis-2654298/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Proceed Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceed-permanent-2654299/) [Relying Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relying-cash-2654296/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/)

## Related quotes

> [If you look at things that really affect people's lives - sport, the arts, charities - they were always at the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/if-you-look-at-things-that-really-affect-people-s-lives-sport-the/)

[John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/)

> [There's no getting around the fact that some cities face long odds, and governments and societies are going to be confronted with some hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-florida/there-s-no-getting-around-the-fact-that-some-cities-face-long-odds/)

[Richard Florida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-florida/)

> [It's like a golden rule in the pawn business: never cash a government check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/it-s-like-a-golden-rule-in-the-pawn-business-never-cash-a-government/)

[Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/)

> [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/)

[Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/)

> [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/)

[Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/)

> [I feel a lot better when I've got a bit of cash on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-feel-a-lot-better-when-i-ve-got-a-bit-of-cash-on-me/)

[Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/)

> [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [You might be a redneck if you have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-have-a-picture-of-johnny-cash-willie/)

[Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/)

> [After I graduated, I carried on with my academic work, via grants but I often had a market stall on Camden Market selling hand-painted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/after-i-graduated-i-carried-on-with-my-academic-work-via-grants-but-i/)

[Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/)

> [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [Nothing knits man to man like the frequent passage from hand to hand of cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sickert/nothing-knits-man-to-man-like-the-frequent-passage-from-hand-to-hand/)

[Walter Sickert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sickert/)

> [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/)

[Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/)

> [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## More by Lawrence Summers

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [I promise you that there are a lot of people involved in various kinds of retail activities who think they have a crucial role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-promise-you-that-there-are-a-lot-of-people-involved-in-various/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [A good rule of thumb for many things in life holds that things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-many-things-in-life-holds-that-things-take/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [In the history of the world, no one has ever washed a rented car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/in-the-history-of-the-world-no-one-has-ever-washed-a-rented-car/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-think-the-economic-logic-behind-dumping-a-load-of-toxic-waste-in/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [There are children who are working in textile businesses in Asia who would be prostitutes on the streets if they did not have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/there-are-children-who-are-working-in-textile-businesses-in-asia-who/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [I have always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly underpolluted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/i-have-always-thought-that-underpopulated-countries-in-africa-are/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [It used to be said that when the U.S. sneezed, the world caught a cold. The opposite is equally true today. Our prosperity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/it-used-to-be-said-that-when-the-u-s-sneezed-the-world-caught-a-cold/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [But ultimately what I was impressed by during my years in government was how much the intellectual climate and the prevailing intellectual notions constrained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/but-ultimately-what-i-was-impressed-by-during-my-years-in-government/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [All taxes discourage something. Why not discourage bad things like pollution rather than good things like working?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/all-taxes-discourage-something-why-not-discourage-bad-things-like/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [The United States basically accepted protection abroad as the price of post-war recovery. Now, that these countries have caught up to our level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/the-united-states-basically-accepted-protection-abroad-as-the-price/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [One of those disturbing tendencies in academic life is that there is a desire on the part of many in the name of open-mindedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/one-of-those-disturbing-tendencies-in-academic-life-is-that-there-is/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [As long as we keep our fundamentals strong...the dollar (and) U.S. borrowing costs will do just fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/as-long-as-we-keep-our-fundamentals-strong-the-dollar-and-u-s/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [Investment in girls' education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/investment-in-girls-education-may-well-be-the-highest-return/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [Spread the truth-the laws of economics are like the laws of engineering. One set of laws works everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/spread-the-truth-the-laws-of-economics-are-like-the-laws-of/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

[Explore all 38 Lawrence Summers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

## More Bases quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/)

[Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/)

> [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/)

[Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/)

> [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

[Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a permanent basis relying only on cash from the government.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lawrence Summers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-companies-proceed-on-a-permanent/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bases"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-companies-proceed-on-a-permanent/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/lawrence-summers-16940_bases_you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-comp_1880669.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You can't have a situation in which companies proceed on a permanent basis relying only on cash from the…” — Lawrence Summers",
                "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 Summers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You can't have a situation in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-companies-proceed-on-a-permanent/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/you-can-t-have-a-situation-in-which-companies-proceed-on-a-permanent/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```