---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don’t want to turn the safety net into…"
description: "\"We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency...\" — Paul Ryan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg"
---

#  We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that…

![“We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency...” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg)

> “We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency...”

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

## About This Quote

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

Safety nets should not become permanent crutches that foster dependency.

**In simple terms:** Welfare must encourage self‑reliance, not complacency.

Key Takeaway

Design programs that promote independence.

Themes

policy social welfare personal responsibility

Mood

serious concerned

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- unemployment benefits
- social security
- job training
- public policy

Key Concepts

dependency economic mobility

Questions to Reflect On

- How to avoid creating dependency?
- What measures ensure dignity?

A Different Perspective

Balancing support with incentive is complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Safety net](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-net/)

## Related quotes

> [We don't want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into complacency and dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [We shouldn't turn the safety net into a hammock. It should actually be a safety net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/we-shouldn-t-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-it-should-actually-be/)

[Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/)

> [I believe that if you are elderly, physically or mentally handicapped we have an obligation too you, but if you are able-bodied, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-jackson/i-believe-that-if-you-are-elderly-physically-or-mentally-handicapped/)

[Alphonso Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-jackson/)

> [One of the challenges in the Affordable Care Act was that it prejudiced the Medicaid system very much in favor of able-bodied adults, away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-azar/one-of-the-challenges-in-the-affordable-care-act-was-that-it/)

[Alex Azar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-azar/)

> [I don't think of myself as being disabled, or able-bodied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-being-disabled-or-able-bodied/)

[Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/)

> [“Other people look at me and think: That poor woman; she has a child with a disability. But all I see when I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/other-people-look-at-me-and-think-that-poor-woman-she-has-a-child/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Dasher was able-bodied; that was part of the problem. His body was able to make hers do crazy things under his scrutiny, touch, scent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-avery/dasher-was-able-bodied-that-was-part-of-the-problem-his-body-was-able/)

Joy Avery

> [A lot of people don't want to hire disabled actors. They think you're going to take twice as long over a shot, or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/a-lot-of-people-don-t-want-to-hire-disabled-actors-they-think-you-re/)

[RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/)

> [My hope is to be the first disabled swimmer on an able-bodied team at the Y Nationals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-arlen/my-hope-is-to-be-the-first-disabled-swimmer-on-an-able-bodied-team-at/)

[Victoria Arlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-arlen/)

> [“Disabled people needed an inordinate amount of time to accomplish the same daily living tasks as able-bodied people-it was one of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/disabled-people-needed-an-inordinate-amount-of-time-to-accomplish-the/)

[Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/)

> [I don't see myself as disabled. There's nothing I can't do that able-bodied athletes can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-pistorius/i-don-t-see-myself-as-disabled-there-s-nothing-i-can-t-do-that-able/)

[Oscar Pistorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-pistorius/)

> [We have the best Paralympic sport in the world because of the integration with the able-bodied tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/we-have-the-best-paralympic-sport-in-the-world-because-of-the/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [When the disabled and able-bodied worlds collide in normal life, many are unsure how to act and what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/when-the-disabled-and-able-bodied-worlds-collide-in-normal-life-many/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [It's hard enough for disabled people to get acting jobs without able-bodied people taking them. As an actor, I know that I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/it-s-hard-enough-for-disabled-people-to-get-acting-jobs-without-able/)

[Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/)

> [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/)

[Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/)

## More by Paul Ryan

> [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Grow jobs. Get this economy growing. Raise wages. Simplify the tax system, so it's easy to comply with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/grow-jobs-get-this-economy-growing-raise-wages-simplify-the-tax/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Donald Trump is a pretty casual guy. He calls me Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/donald-trump-is-a-pretty-casual-guy-he-calls-me-paul/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [ What \[President Donald Trump\] is doing is taking away the executive overreach that President \[Barack\] Obama did which we thought exceeded his powers. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-president-donald-trump-is-doing-is-taking-away-the-executive/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. There are a few things he would say that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/my-dad-died-when-i-was-young-he-was-a-good-and-decent-man-there-are-a/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Millions of young Americans have graduated from college during the Obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. Half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/millions-of-young-americans-have-graduated-from-college-during-the/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [When you take a look at the problems our country is facing, debt is No. 1. The math is downright scary and the credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-you-take-a-look-at-the-problems-our-country-is-facing-debt-is-no/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [What I'm concerned about is endless borrowing, which is going to compromise our economy not only today but in the future. Because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-i-m-concerned-about-is-endless-borrowing-which-is-going-to/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [We believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-believe-as-our-founders-did-that-the-pursuit-of-happiness-depends/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [If you’re going to criticize, you should propose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-going-to-criticize-you-should-propose/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [I call crony capitalism, where you take money from successful small businesses, spend it in Washington on favored industries, on favored individuals, picking winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-call-crony-capitalism-where-you-take-money-from-successful-small/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

[Explore all 345 Paul Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency...",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul Ryan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/paul-ryan-869_able_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_2977225.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and…” — Paul Ryan",
                "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": "Paul Ryan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We don’t want to turn the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
