--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The system of plunder derives much of its…" description: "\"The system of plunder derives much of its support from individuals who do not subscribe to socialism but who say, 'We're paying for it, so we might as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/leonard-read-14543_individual_the-system-of-plunder-derives-much-of-it_2355980.png" --- # The system of plunder derives much of its support from… ![“The system of plunder derives much of its support from individuals who do not subscribe to socialism but who say, 'We're paying for it, so we might as well get our share'” quote by Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/leonard-read-14543_individual_the-system-of-plunder-derives-much-of-it_2355980.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/leonard-read-14543_individual_the-system-of-plunder-derives-much-of-it_2355980.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/leonard-read-14543_individual_the-system-of-plunder-derives-much-of-it_2355980.png) > “The system of plunder derives much of its support from individuals who do not subscribe to socialism but who say, 'We're paying for it, so we might as well get our share'” [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that people who oppose socialism still benefit from its plunder, so they tacitly support it by demanding a share of its spoils. **In simple terms:** Opponents of socialism still profit from its exploitation. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden beneficiaries of unjust systems. Themes politics economics ethics Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - tax reform - public discourse - activism Key Concepts public goods collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from the system you criticize? - How can you align your actions with your stated principles? A Different Perspective It overlooks voluntary contributions to social programs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Plunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunder/) [Plunder Derives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunder-derives-5752539/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) [Socialism Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism-say-5752541/) [Subscribe Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subscribe-socialism-5752540/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/when-plunder-becomes-a-way-of-life-for-a-group-of-men-in-a-society/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [ It \[the free market\] is an organizational way of doing things, featuring openness, which enables millions of people to cooperate and compete without demanding… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/it-the-free-market-is-an-organizational-way-of-doing-things-featuring/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Statism, which forces all of us within its orbit, is nothing but a political system of organized plunder, managed by every conceivable type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/statism-which-forces-all-of-us-within-its-orbit-is-nothing-but-a/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [What precisely is this disease that causes inflation and all these other troubles? It has many popular names, such as socialism, communism, state interventionism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/what-precisely-is-this-disease-that-causes-inflation-and-all-these/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Socialism takes and redistributes wealth, but it is utterly incapable of creating wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/socialism-takes-and-redistributes-wealth-but-it-is-utterly-incapable/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [The business of obscuring language is a mask behind which stands the much bigger business of plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/the-business-of-obscuring-language-is-a-mask-behind-which-stands-the/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [“Private property based on the labour of the small proprietor, free competition, democracy, i.e., all the catchwords with which the capitalists and their press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/private-property-based-on-the-labour-of-the-small-proprietor-free/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Sometimes the law places the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons and gendarmes at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/sometimes-the-law-defends-plunder-and-participates-in-it-sometimes/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [In the nature of things, those who have no property and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/in-the-nature-of-things-those-who-have-no-property-and-see-their/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) ## More by Leonard Read > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [There is no moral distinction between petty thievery and 'from each according to ability, to each according to need.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-no-moral-distinction-between-petty-thievery-and-from-each/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Whenever government assumed responsibility for the security, welfare, and prosperity of citizens, the costs of government rise beyond the point where it is politically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/whenever-government-assumed-responsibility-for-the-security-welfare/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [ The solution to this problem \[welfare-statism\] must take a positive form: the restoration of a faith in what free men can accomplish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-solution-to-this-problem-welfare-statism-must-take-a-positive/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [The libertarian can have no truck with 'left' or 'right' because he regrets any form of authoritarianism - the use of police force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-libertarian-can-have-no-truck-with-left-or-right-because-he/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Is it not obvious that the more complex an economy, the more certainly will governmental control of productive effort exert a retarding influence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/is-it-not-obvious-that-the-more-complex-an-economy-the-more-certainly/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [In market terms, one is entitled to what others will offer in willing exchange. That is all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/in-market-terms-one-is-entitled-to-what-others-will-offer-in-willing/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Socialism takes and redistributes wealth, but it is utterly incapable of creating wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/socialism-takes-and-redistributes-wealth-but-it-is-utterly-incapable/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [What precisely is this disease that causes inflation and all these other troubles? It has many popular names, such as socialism, communism, state interventionism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/what-precisely-is-this-disease-that-causes-inflation-and-all-these/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [The right way is the greatest gratifier of human wishes ever come upon - when allowed to operate. It is as morally sound as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-right-way-is-the-greatest-gratifier-of-human-wishes-ever-come/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [ \[S\]tatism is but socialized dishonesty; it is feathering the nests of some with feathers coercively plucked from others - on the grand scale. There… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/s-tatism-is-but-socialized-dishonesty-it-is-feathering-the-nests-of/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [There is really nothing that can be done except by an individual. Only individuals can learn. Only individuals can think creatively. Only individuals can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-really-nothing-that-can-be-done-except-by-an-individual-only/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Governments resort to inflation with popular support because the people apparently are naïve enough to believe that they can have their cake and eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/governments-resort-to-inflation-with-popular-support-because-the/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Assume that a surgeon has discovered how to do brain surgery, that he can do only one a month, that 1,000 persons a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/assume-that-a-surgeon-has-discovered-how-to-do-brain-surgery-that-he/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Such terms as communism, socialism, Fabianism, the welfare state, Nazism, fascism, state interventionism, egalitarianism, the planned economy, the New Deal, the Fair Deal, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/such-terms-as-communism-socialism-fabianism-the-welfare-state-nazism/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) [Explore all 46 Leonard Read quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) ## More Individual quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. 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