--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, if government were a product…" description: "\"You know, if government were a product, selling it would be illegal. Government is a health hazard. Governments have killed many more people than cigar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/p-j-o-rourke-184_belts_you-know-if-government-were-a-product-se_151588.jpg" --- # You know, if government were a product, selling it would… ![“You know, if government were a product, selling it would be illegal. Government is a health hazard. Governments have killed many more people than cigarettes or unbuckled seat belts ever have.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/p-j-o-rourke-184_belts_you-know-if-government-were-a-product-se_151588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/p-j-o-rourke-184_belts_you-know-if-government-were-a-product-se_151588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/p-j-o-rourke-184_belts_you-know-if-government-were-a-product-se_151588.jpg) > “You know, if government were a product, selling it would be illegal. Government is a health hazard. Governments have killed many more people than cigarettes or unbuckled seat belts ever have.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## 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 governments cause widespread harm, likening them to dangerous products and suggesting their impact exceeds that of common health risks. **In simple terms:** Governments cause more harm than many everyday dangers. Key Takeaway Question authority and demand accountability. Themes politics public health power corruption risk Mood skeptical critical concerned Type political satirical cautionary When to use this quote - election cycles - public health crises - regulatory oversight - civil protest Key Concepts authoritarianism externalities policy failure Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively check governmental abuse? - What mechanisms ensure government protects health? A Different Perspective Governments also provide essential services and stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Seat belts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seat-belts/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) ## Related quotes > [Government is a health hazard. Governments have killed many more people than cigarettes or unbuckled seat belts ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/government-is-a-health-hazard-governments-have-killed-many-more/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [You know, if government were a product, selling it would be illegal. ... Government contains impure ingredients - as anybody who's looked at Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/you-know-if-government-were-a-product-selling-it-would-be-illegal-2/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [One nice thing about the Third World, you don't have to fasten your seat belt. (Or stop smoking. Or cut down on saturated fats.)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/one-nice-thing-about-the-third-world-you-don-t-have-to-fasten-your/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [If government were a product, selling it would be illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-government-were-a-product-selling-it-would-be-illegal/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Oh, I never use a seat belt. I don't believe in gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/oh-i-never-use-a-seat-belt-i-don-t-believe-in-gravity/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [“Nobody was hurt, thank God, because both drivers were wearing seat belts. Thank God, thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonnegut/nobody-was-hurt-thank-god-because-both-drivers-were-wearing-seat/) vonnegut > [“When I was about nine, my siblings and I fell out of our moving van at an intersection. My dad didn’t notice for about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dina-kucera/when-i-was-about-nine-my-siblings-and-i-fell-out-of-our-moving-van-at/) [Dina Kucera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dina-kucera/) > [We take our vitamins, we go to exercise class, we put on our seat belts. And then something blindsides us and gives the lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/we-take-our-vitamins-we-go-to-exercise-class-we-put-on-our-seat-belts/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [If there is a regulation that says you have to do something-whether it be putting in seat belts, catalytic converters, clean air for coal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-chu/if-there-is-a-regulation-that-says-you-have-to-do-something-whether/) [Steven Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-chu/) > [“Honey, are you being safe?' 'I wear my seat belt, yes.' 'Does this Rob Lovely wear a seat belt too?' Matty sighed. 'Mother, seat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/honey-are-you-being-safe-i-wear-my-seat-belt-yes-does-this-rob-lovely/) [Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/) > [How do you think it would feel to be obliged to ask for a seat-belt extender on an airplane? For the unfashionably bulgy, life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-grizzuti-harrison/how-do-you-think-it-would-feel-to-be-obliged-to-ask-for-a-seat-belt/) [Barbara Grizzuti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-grizzuti-harrison/) > [“The seat belt irked his father more than Uncle Colin's not eating meat, because, though his father never said it, Larry knew he considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-franklin/the-seat-belt-irked-his-father-more-than-uncle-colin-s-not-eating/) [Tom Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-franklin/) > [“Pets are our seat belts on the emotional roller coaster of life--they can be trusted, they keep us safe, and they sure do smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-trout/pets-are-our-seat-belts-on-the-emotional-roller-coaster-of-life-they/) [Nick Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-trout/) > [Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night! - As Margo Channing in All About Eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/fasten-your-seat-belts-it-s-going-to-be-a-bumpy-night-as-margo/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Bras are basically seat belts for boobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/bras-are-basically-seat-belts-for-boobs/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Belts quotes > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I find it frustrating when people wear belts with braces. That's an interesting one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-find-it-frustrating-when-people-wear-belts-with-braces-that-s-an/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [A lot of the time, if I have samples, I can't tailor a sample. Or, I might have just bought something and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-palermo/a-lot-of-the-time-if-i-have-samples-i-can-t-tailor-a-sample-or-i/) [Olivia Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-palermo/) > [There's an expectation these days that novels - like any other consumer product - should be made on a production line, with one dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/there-s-an-expectation-these-days-that-novels-like-any-other-consumer/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [What is golden is miles under your belt, miles, miles, miles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/what-is-golden-is-miles-under-your-belt-miles-miles-miles/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I don't just want the belt, I want every one of their heads on a plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-don-t-just-want-the-belt-i-want-every-one-of-their-heads-on-a-plate/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [To pray only when in peril is to use safety belts only in heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/to-pray-only-when-in-peril-is-to-use-safety-belts-only-in-heavy/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) Dan Carter > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Microsoft is still not a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/microsoft-is-still-not-a-black-belt/) [Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/) > [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/) [Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/) > [Sorry,” he said. “Let me drop the belt-" “No.” She held on when he would have pulled away. “Don’t. I like it.” Again, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/sorry-he-said-let-me-drop-the-belt-no-she-held-on-when-he-would-have/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [How'd we come up with the robe? Was some guy just like, 'Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't we make a coat out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/how-d-we-come-up-with-the-robe-was-some-guy-just-like-hey-i-ve-got-an/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) Browse all 497 Belts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, if government were a product, selling it would be illegal. Government is a health hazard. Governments have killed many more people than cigarettes or unbuckled seat belts ever have.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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