--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We could say the government spend like…" description: "\"We could say the government spend like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors, because the sailors are spending their own money.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg" --- # We could say the government spend like drunken sailors… ![“We could say the government spend like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors, because the sailors are spending their own money.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg) > “We could say the government spend like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors, because the sailors are spending their own money.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes reckless spending by comparing it to drunken sailors, highlighting fiscal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Government spending should be disciplined, not wasteful. Key Takeaway Demand fiscal prudence. Themes economics government responsibility Mood cautious critical Type political economic When to use this quote - national budget planning - legislative debates - public sector management Key Concepts budgeting tax policy public finance Questions to Reflect On - What spending is essential versus wasteful? - How can fiscal responsibility be balanced with social needs? A Different Perspective Simplistic analogy may overlook necessary investments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) ## Related quotes > [The difference between congressmen and drunken sailors is that drunken sailors are spending their own money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-feeney/the-difference-between-congressmen-and-drunken-sailors-is-that/) Tom Feeney > [To say Congress is spending like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/to-say-congress-is-spending-like-drunken-sailors-is-an-insult-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Until the 1930s, the Constitution served as a major constraint on federal economic interventionism. The government's powers were understood to be just as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/until-the-1930s-the-constitution-served-as-a-major-constraint-on/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [I am interested in government spend quality, as it accounts for the biggest chunk of the social spending pie. Hundreds of foundations put together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/i-am-interested-in-government-spend-quality-as-it-accounts-for-the/) [Rakesh Jhunjhunwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/) > [Donald Trump is having foreign leaders spend their money and our government spend their money on his properties. This is not the president of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-mook/donald-trump-is-having-foreign-leaders-spend-their-money-and-our/) [Robby Mook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-mook/) > [I know it's going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we're in. You can spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-know-it-s-going-to-be-the-private-sector-that-leads-this-country/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I would cap the amount of federal government can spend at 20 percent of the economy. Bring it back to 20 percent or lower.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-cap-the-amount-of-federal-government-can-spend-at-20-percent/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Government can only spend a dollar to help someone when it forcibly takes a dollar from someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/government-can-only-spend-a-dollar-to-help-someone-when-it-forcibly/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) > [This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ann-minner/this-independent-report-clearly-indicates-that-while-we-may-differ/) [Ruth Ann Minner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ann-minner/) > [Everything we get, outside of the free gifts of nature, must in some way be paid for. The world is full of so- called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/everything-we-get-outside-of-the-free-gifts-of-nature-must-in-some/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [The money has to go to the federal government because the federal government will spend that money better than the private sector will spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-money-has-to-go-to-the-federal-government-because-the-federal/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The government should spend money earned through taxes on social welfare schemes, create infrastructure and in other priority areas, whether national security or providing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-thakur/the-government-should-spend-money-earned-through-taxes-on-social/) [Anurag Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-thakur/) > [If you ask people do you think that government should spend less money than what it takes in, most people agree with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/if-you-ask-people-do-you-think-that-government-should-spend-less/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [The government has to spend money during a recession, because their spending is our earning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/the-government-has-to-spend-money-during-a-recession-because-their/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [The point of taxation isn't that the government knows better than you how to spend your money - it's that the government, by virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-taylor/the-point-of-taxation-isn-t-that-the-government-knows-better-than-you/) Jesse Taylor ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Government quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [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 > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [We can't have a government that will collapse in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/we-can-t-have-a-government-that-will-collapse-in-three-months/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 21,248 Government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We could say the government spend like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors, because the sailors are spending their own money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-drunken-sailors-but-that-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Government" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-drunken-sailors-but-that-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47f/ronald-reagan-119_government_we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-d_1264366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We could say the government spend like drunken sailors, but that would be unfair to drunken sailors, because…” — Ronald Reagan", "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": "Ronald Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We could say the government spend...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-drunken-sailors-but-that-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-could-say-the-government-spend-like-drunken-sailors-but-that-would/#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 } } ] } ```