--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure…" description: "\"Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png" --- # Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and… ![“Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png) > “Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for equal laws and self‑sufficiency over charity, emphasizing security through fairness. **In simple terms:** Fair laws replace the need for alms. Key Takeaway Promote justice, not reliance on charity. Themes e fairness self‑reliance Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical political When to use this quote - public policy - community building - legal reform Key Concepts social contract ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - How can laws ensure both security and compassion? - What are the limits of law in addressing poverty? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of voluntary generosity in social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) ## Related quotes > [Adversity is the formwork to build the framework of life's prosperity with mind's clarity and heart's creativity for the soul's festivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/adversity-is-the-formwork-to-build-the-framework-of-life-s-prosperity/) [Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/) > [I wanted a fulfilling life, what every person wants. And then I just made a decision to leave music to venture out and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-wanted-a-fulfilling-life-what-every-person-wants-and-then-i-just/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [Whoever pursues righteousness, and love, finds life prosperity and honor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/whoever-pursues-righteousness-and-love-finds-life-prosperity-and-honor/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [Equal laws protecting equal rights…the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/equal-laws-protecting-equal-rights-the-best-guarantee-of-loyalty-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Morally a woman has a right to the free and entire development of every faculty which God has given her to be improved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brownell-jameson/morally-a-woman-has-a-right-to-the-free-and-entire-development-of/) [Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brownell-jameson/) > [In every society where property exists there will ever be a struggle between rich and poor. Mixed in one assembly, equal laws can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/in-every-society-where-property-exists-there-will-ever-be-a-struggle/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/all-too-will-bear-in-mind-this-sacred-principle-that-though-the-will/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Character is always known. Thefts never enrich; alms never impoverish; murder will speak out of stone walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/character-is-always-known-thefts-never-enrich-alms-never-impoverish-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My life should be unique; it should be an alms, a battle, a conquest, a medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/my-life-should-be-unique-it-should-be-an-alms-a-battle-a-conquest-a/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There is a class of persons to whom by all spiritual affinity i am bought and sold; for them i will go to prison,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-a-class-of-persons-to-whom-by-all-spiritual-affinity-i-am/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Thefts never enrich; alms never impoverish; murder will speak out of stone walls. The least admixture of a lie-for example, the taint of vanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thefts-never-enrich-alms-never-impoverish-murder-will-speak-out-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [I want to go to every corner of the Earth where women are and make sure that every single woman on this planet knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/i-want-to-go-to-every-corner-of-the-earth-where-women-are-and-make/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Alms quotes > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Alms (is) for the purity of your soul, and flourishment and expansion of your sustenence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bint-muhammad/alms-is-for-the-purity-of-your-soul-and-flourishment-and-expansion-of/) [Fatima bint Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bint-muhammad/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-setting-sun-is-reflected-from-the-windows-of-the-alms-house-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [“Pesa itolewe kwa masharti au bila masharti chukua, kwani huyo aliyeitoa si yake. Benki, kwa mfano, ikitaka kukupa mkopo itakuwa na masharti yake; chukua,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/pesa-itolewe-kwa-masharti-au-bila-masharti-chukua-kwani-huyo/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [The best remedy for dryness of spirit, is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/the-best-remedy-for-dryness-of-spirit-is-to-picture-ourselves-as/) [Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/) > [Walking does good to the fat and giving alms does good to the sinners; these both make one feel lighter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/walking-does-good-to-the-fat-and-giving-alms-does-good-to-the-sinners/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/) [Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/) > [But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-what-if-i-should-discover-that-the-least-amongst-them-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 124 Alms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure-life-and-prosperity-and-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure-life-and-prosperity-and-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1aa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alms_give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure_2726384.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Give no bounties: make equal laws:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure-life-and-prosperity-and-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/give-no-bounties-make-equal-laws-secure-life-and-prosperity-and-you/#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 } } ] } ```