---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may believe in the state's…"
description: "\"We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts 40 percent of Latin America's population, but most of us a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png"
---

#  We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate…

![“We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts 40 percent of Latin America's population, but most of us also affirm that there is no better cure for that poverty than a stronger, more globally integrated economy.” quote by Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png)

> “We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts 40 percent of Latin America's population, but most of us also affirm that there is no better cure for that poverty than a stronger, more globally integrated economy.”

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

## About This Quote

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

The state should help the poor, yet the best solution is a robust global economy that lifts living standards.

**In simple terms:** State aid helps, but global growth is the cure.

Key Takeaway

Promote policies that integrate economies worldwide.

Themes

poverty alleviation globalization public policy economic development

Mood

optimistic serious

Type

policy economics

When to use this quote

- development planning
- international trade agreements
- foreign investment
- social safety nets
- education funding

Key Concepts

social welfare market integration economic interdependence

Questions to Reflect On

- How can global markets be made inclusive?
- What safeguards protect vulnerable groups?

A Different Perspective

Economic integration may not reach the most marginalized without targeted programs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Latin america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin-america/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [I think I was meant to be a musician who speaks his mind about social justice issues. And I grew up in a lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-think-i-was-meant-to-be-a-musician-who-speaks-his-mind-about-social/)

[Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/)

> [You never can cure poverty. Poverty is in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/you-never-can-cure-poverty-poverty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

> [Countries with higher incomes on average achieve better human development. I do not believe that growth alone will 'cure' poverty. But I do believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/countries-with-higher-incomes-on-average-achieve-better-human/)

[Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/)

> [Cure Poverty With Charity &amp; Giving Generously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail/cure-poverty-with-charity-giving-generously/)

[Ismail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail/)

> [The only real cure for poverty is production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-only-real-cure-for-poverty-is-production/)

[Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/)

> [A job is the best cure for poverty, and that's why economic development and job creation has been my principle focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/a-job-is-the-best-cure-for-poverty-and-that-s-why-economic/)

[Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/)

> [“As long as we look to legislation to cure poverty or to abolish special privilege we are going to see poverty spread and special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/as-long-as-we-look-to-legislation-to-cure-poverty-or-to-abolish-2/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [One of the favorite conservative themes is that the cure for poverty is more marriage and earlier marriage. We hear that all the time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/one-of-the-favorite-conservative-themes-is-that-the-cure-for-poverty/)

[Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/)

> [As long as we look to legislation to cure poverty or to abolish special privilege we are going to see poverty and special privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/as-long-as-we-look-to-legislation-to-cure-poverty-or-to-abolish/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Latin Americans glorify their past so ceaselessly that they make it almost impossible to advocate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/latin-americans-glorify-their-past-so-ceaselessly-that-they-make-it/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Latin America has not achieved the development that it deserves... I'm not optimistic for all of Latin America, not only for Central America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/latin-america-has-not-achieved-the-development-that-it-deserves-i-m/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Latin America's economies are organized in a way that concentrates wealth in a few hands but then leaves it untaxed, depriving governments of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/latin-america-s-economies-are-organized-in-a-way-that-concentrates/)

[Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/)

> [I was born with a beard. We're quite hairy down in Latin America. We don't have to use sponges when we wash dishes. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-was-born-with-a-beard-we-re-quite-hairy-down-in-latin-america-we/)

[Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/)

> [I'm a first generation American. My mother is Italian and Russian and a lot of other things, and my father is Uruguayan. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-arcelus/i-m-a-first-generation-american-my-mother-is-italian-and-russian-and/)

[Sebastian Arcelus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-arcelus/)

> [Firstly, economic globalisation has brought prosperity and development to many countries, but also financial crises to Asia, Latin America and Russia, and increasing poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/firstly-economic-globalisation-has-brought-prosperity-and-development/)

[Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/)

## More by Óscar Arias

> [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [War, and the preparation for war, are the two greatest obstacles to human progress, fostering a vicious cycle of arms buildups, violence and poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/war-and-the-preparation-for-war-are-the-two-greatest-obstacles-to/)

[Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [On Dec. 1, 1948, after the triumph of the revolution, which insured the final victory of the will of the people expressed through elections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/on-dec-1-1948-after-the-triumph-of-the-revolution-which-insured-the/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [“It is essential that justice be done, it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-is-essential-that-justice-be-done-it-is-equally-vital-that-justice/)

[Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [The best way to perpetuate poverty is by spending on arms and military, and the best way to fight terrorism is by fighting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-best-way-to-perpetuate-poverty-is-by-spending-on-arms-and/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/india-pakistan-china-singapore-and-south-korea-are-heavily-investing/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Peace consists, very largely, in the fact of desiring it with all one's soul. The inhabitants of my small country, Costa Rica, have realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/peace-consists-very-largely-in-the-fact-of-desiring-it-with-all-one-s/)

[Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Our world is certainly dangerous, but it is made more dangerous, not less, by those who value profits over peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/our-world-is-certainly-dangerous-but-it-is-made-more-dangerous-not/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [It's clear to me that many weapons sales are very short-sighted. The U.S. and other arms-producing countries sell weapons for a variety of reasons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-s-clear-to-me-that-many-weapons-sales-are-very-short-sighted-the-u/)

[Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [To demilitarize the country means to make a profound decision. It is not enough to change the name of the armed forces. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/to-demilitarize-the-country-means-to-make-a-profound-decision-it-is/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [We seek in Central America not peace alone, not peace to be followed someday by political progress, but peace and democracy, together, indivisible, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-seek-in-central-america-not-peace-alone-not-peace-to-be-followed/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Free trade will go a long way toward alleviating poverty in Central America. Yet trade alone is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/free-trade-will-go-a-long-way-toward-alleviating-poverty-in-central/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [Many developing countries continue to be burdened by high percentages of their population living in poverty. Yet, instead of addressing this root cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/many-developing-countries-continue-to-be-burdened-by-high-percentages/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

> [If there is no peace in Central America, it will not be because Costa Rica, and myself as president, have not done what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/if-there-is-no-peace-in-central-america-it-will-not-be-because-costa/)

[Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

[Explore all 79 Óscar Arias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [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/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts 40 percent of Latin America's population, but most of us also affirm that there is no better cure for that poverty than a stronger, more globally integrated economy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Óscar Arias"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibility-to-alleviate-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibility-to-alleviate-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/scar-arias-8677_america_we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibi_1298266.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We may believe in the state's responsibility to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts 40 percent of…” — Óscar Arias",
                "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": "Óscar Arias",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We may believe in the state's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibility-to-alleviate-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-may-believe-in-the-state-s-responsibility-to-alleviate-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
