---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And that's just the beginning. More and…"
description: "\"“And that's just the beginning. More and more, conventional wisdom says that the responsible thing is to make the unemployed suffer. And while the bene..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/paul-krugman-2255_2010_and-that-s-just-the-beginning-more-and-m_2042520.jpg"
---

#  And that's just the beginning. More and more, conventional…

![“And that's just the beginning. More and more, conventional wisdom says that the responsible thing is to make the unemployed suffer. And while the benefits from inflicting pain are an illusion, the pain itself will be all too real.” quote by Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/paul-krugman-2255_2010_and-that-s-just-the-beginning-more-and-m_2042520.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/paul-krugman-2255_2010_and-that-s-just-the-beginning-more-and-m_2042520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d72/paul-krugman-2255_2010_and-that-s-just-the-beginning-more-and-m_2042520.jpg)

> ““And that's just the beginning. More and more, conventional wisdom says that the responsible thing is to make the unemployed suffer. And while the benefits from inflicting pain are an illusion, the pain itself will be all too real.””

[Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/)

## About This Quote

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

The passage argues that blaming the unemployed is a false narrative; the supposed benefits are illusory, while the real pain is tangible.

**In simple terms:** Blaming the jobless is a harmful myth that causes real suffering.

Key Takeaway

Question and challenge narratives that scapegoat the unemployed.

Themes

economics politics ethics social justice

Mood

critical concerned

Type

analytical critical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- media analysis
- public discourse
- labor markets
- social welfare

Key Concepts

scapegoating illusion pain perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies support the unemployed without creating false narratives?
- What evidence counters the claim of “responsible” suffering?

A Different Perspective

The view may overlook complexities of economic policy and individual responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[2010](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-2010-587/) [Benefits Inflicting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits-inflicting-3808468/) [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Inflicting pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflicting-pain/) [Make Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-unemployed-3808467/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffer Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-benefits-3808466/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Too real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-real/) [Unemployed Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed-suffer-3808465/) [Unemployment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

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