--- 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 into complacency and dependence.\" — Paul Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.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 into complacency and dependence.” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg) > “We don't want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into complacency and dependence.” [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. Warns that overly generous safety nets can discourage self‑reliance and foster dependency. **In simple terms:** Too much aid may make people lazy. Key Takeaway Balance support with incentives for independence. Themes social policy dependence self‑reliance Mood cautious concerned Type political policy When to use this quote - unemployment benefits - disability aid - public assistance programs Key Concepts welfare economics behavioral incentives Questions to Reflect On - How can we design safety nets that empower rather than deter? - What safeguards prevent abuse while encouraging effort? A Different Perspective May reduce short‑term hardship but risk long‑term disengagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hammock Lulls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammock-lulls-3875288/) [Net Hammock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/net-hammock-3875289/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-complacency-3875287/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Safety net](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-net/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able-2/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Your courage draws people out of complacency into their destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/your-courage-draws-people-out-of-complacency-into-their-destiny/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [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/) > [The work ahead will be hard. These times demand the best of us - all of us, but we can do this. Together, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-work-ahead-will-be-hard-these-times-demand-the-best-of-us-all-of/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We must promote upward mobility, starting with solutions that speak to our broken education system, broken immigration policy, and broken safety-net programs that foster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-must-promote-upward-mobility-starting-with-solutions-that-speak-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [In Britain, where the social safety net is more like a social swaddling cloth, crime rates other than murder are significantly higher than in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/in-britain-where-the-social-safety-net-is-more-like-a-social/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [I can't help but react to the painful realities of the two-tiered society we live in, where the signs of poverty and inequity are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-yarrow/i-can-t-help-but-react-to-the-painful-realities-of-the-two-tiered/) [Peter Yarrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-yarrow/) > [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If the idea is you're working at a job solely to pay the bills because you have ambitions to do something else, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/if-the-idea-is-you-re-working-at-a-job-solely-to-pay-the-bills/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [Our people want jobs. They don't want a safety net as a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/our-people-want-jobs-they-don-t-want-a-safety-net-as-a-way-of-life/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If the economy is growing fast, there is call for a distributing income from the rich to the poor to to put in place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/if-the-economy-is-growing-fast-there-is-call-for-a-distributing/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [Comedy scares me a lot. I feel like it's way harder than drama. I think my safety net is definitely drama, and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/comedy-scares-me-a-lot-i-feel-like-it-s-way-harder-than-drama-i-think/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [I do not want to get rid of the safety net, I want to get rid of dependency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-do-not-want-to-get-rid-of-the-safety-net-i-want-to-get-rid-of/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## 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 Complacency quotes > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [We are the best the show, others weak hold. Just to get complacency / which does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-are-the-best-the-show-others-weak-hold-just-to-get-complacency/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To move forward, one need only take the first step,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-neill/to-move-forward-one-need-only-take-the-first-step/) [Chase Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-neill/) > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Don't let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth - don't let that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/don-t-let-your-special-character-and-values-the-secret-that-you-know/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Complacency is a creeping danger. Unless wisdom sets in, you will never come to your senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jey-lopez/complacency-is-a-creeping-danger-unless-wisdom-sets-in-you-will-never/) [Jey Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jey-lopez/) > [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Listen to Mr. Complacency long enough and he'll convince you that what you really, really need is a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-and-brett-harris/listen-to-mr-complacency-long-enough-and-he-ll-convince-you-that-what/) [Alex and Brett Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-and-brett-harris/) > [I always say, complacency is the kiss of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-redstone/i-always-say-complacency-is-the-kiss-of-death/) [Shari Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-redstone/) [Browse all 437 Complacency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) ```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 into complacency and dependence.", "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/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complacency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/paul-ryan-869_complacency_we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-int_442164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We don't want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into complacency 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/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-don-t-want-to-turn-the-safety-net-into-a-hammock-that-lulls-able/#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 } } ] } ```