--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more power government has to provide…" description: "\"The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.\" — Sheldon Richman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png" --- # The more power government has to provide things, the more… ![“The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.” quote by Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png) > “The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.” [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When governments expand control over services, they gain leverage to impose conditions, potentially limiting individual freedom. **In simple terms:** More government control leads to more influence over people. Key Takeaway Guard against overreach. Themes politics freedom power Mood critical concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - voting - public discourse - legal challenges - community organizing Key Concepts governmental authority policy civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - What services should remain public? - How can citizens ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Balancing provision and autonomy is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate/) [Dictate Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate-terms-5307793/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-provide-449699/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power Dictate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-dictate-576448/) [Power government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-government/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [We need to stop being under the impression we have the power to dictate to others what they do with their clothes, hair or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-need-to-stop-being-under-the-impression-we-have-the-power-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No emperor has the power to dictate to the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/no-emperor-has-the-power-to-dictate-to-the-heart/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“You have the right to action, but not to the fruits of action”: each of us has the obligation to act rightly, but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-dwaipayana-vyasa/you-have-the-right-to-action-but-not-to-the-fruits-of-action-each-of/) [Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-dwaipayana-vyasa/) > [I want the government to provide the military so we don't get invaded by somebody and destroyed. I want the government to provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-want-the-government-to-provide-the-military-so-we-don-t-get-invaded/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [By investing others with the power to dictate who you are, you rob yourself of an opportunity to truly grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-schappell/by-investing-others-with-the-power-to-dictate-who-you-are-you-rob/) [Elissa Schappell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-schappell/) > [Power comes from the muzzle of a gun, those that have the guns have the power, those that have the power dictate what type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/power-comes-from-the-muzzle-of-a-gun-those-that-have-the-guns-have/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“without the power to concentrate that is to say, without the power to dictate to the brain its task and to ensure obedience true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/without-the-power-to-concentrate-that-is-to-say-without-the-power-to/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/now-so-there-will-be-no-misunderstanding-it-s-not-my-intention-to-do/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Do not wait for the government to provide solutions to the people when you can be their answer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/do-not-wait-for-the-government-to-provide-solutions-to-the-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [People who thing that they are getting something for nothing, by having government provide what they would otherwise have to buy in the private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/people-who-thing-that-they-are-getting-something-for-nothing-by/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [You have to have a government to provide you with legal order, with stability, enforcement of property rights, enforcement of contracts, definition of rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-buchanan/you-have-to-have-a-government-to-provide-you-with-legal-order-with/) [James M. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-buchanan/) > [Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity; not stifle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/government-can-and-must-provide-opportunity-not-smother-it-foster/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-is-not-my-intention-to-do-away-with-government-it-is-rather-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We recognise the need for government to provide a clear and stable regulatory framework so as to release the investment power of business in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/we-recognise-the-need-for-government-to-provide-a-clear-and-stable/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [The function of government is to provide you with service; the function of the media is to supply the Vaseline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/the-function-of-government-is-to-provide-you-with-service-the/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) ## More by Sheldon Richman > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Those who create the wealth naturally want to keep it and devote it to their own purposes. Those who wish to expropriate it look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/those-who-create-the-wealth-naturally-want-to-keep-it-and-devote-it/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Government interference with the economic process represents a substitution of political for consumer objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/government-interference-with-the-economic-process-represents-a/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Perhaps the deterioration of American education is illustrated by the high correlation between the number of years a person has attended school and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/perhaps-the-deterioration-of-american-education-is-illustrated-by-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The government's coercive taxing power necessarily creates two classes: those who create and those who consume the wealth expropriated and transferred by that power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-government-s-coercive-taxing-power-necessarily-creates-two/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Why is Netanyahu pushing war? Among several reasons, demonizing Iran reduces pressure on Israel to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians. Many Israelis prefer building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/why-is-netanyahu-pushing-war-among-several-reasons-demonizing-iran/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [When government 'creates jobs' by taking money from the private sector and 'investing' in favored projects, it is not truly productive activity. Rather, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/when-government-creates-jobs-by-taking-money-from-the-private-sector/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [No matter how much the government controls the economic system, any problem will be blamed on whatever small zone of freedom that remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/no-matter-how-much-the-government-controls-the-economic-system-any/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Apologists for activist government never tire of telling us that the benevolent state is our protector and that without it wed be at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/apologists-for-activist-government-never-tire-of-telling-us-that-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [It should go without saying that even the most narrowly construed eminent-domain power would violate individual rights. Either a person owns his legitimately acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/it-should-go-without-saying-that-even-the-most-narrowly-construed/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [In an unmolested market economy - one where all dealings are consensual - the 'allocation' of wealth and income is the result of transactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/in-an-unmolested-market-economy-one-where-all-dealings-are-consensual/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [We must acknowledge, of course, that what looks like failure to us Americans outside the privileged elite may not actually be failure for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/we-must-acknowledge-of-course-that-what-looks-like-failure-to-us/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Some conservatives are surprised to find people on the Left supporting the war in Afghanistan. It's not surprising at all...It is hard for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/some-conservatives-are-surprised-to-find-people-on-the-left/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The housing and financial crisis could not have occurred in the absence of government housing and monetary policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-housing-and-financial-crisis-could-not-have-occurred-in-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Freedom is never more in peril than when politicians feel the pressure to 'do something.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/freedom-is-never-more-in-peril-than-when-politicians-feel-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) [Explore all 27 Sheldon Richman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) ## More Dictate quotes > [I'm obsessed with being able to dictate energy in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bazzi/i-m-obsessed-with-being-able-to-dictate-energy-in-a-room/) [Bazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bazzi/) > [I am not invested with dictatorial powers. If I were, I should be quite ready to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-not-invested-with-dictatorial-powers-if-i-were-i-should-be-quite/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Federalism doesn't empower D.C. to dictate to the states or the local level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/federalism-doesn-t-empower-d-c-to-dictate-to-the-states-or-the-local/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Songs are like anything else - they dictate to you which ones go together and which ones don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/songs-are-like-anything-else-they-dictate-to-you-which-ones-go/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [It's kind of true that they just start making the same movie over and over again. It's also true that the times dictate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/it-s-kind-of-true-that-they-just-start-making-the-same-movie-over-and/) [Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/) > [What if I couldn't handle people's opinions of me? I know that shouldn't dictate a person's degree of peace or happiness in life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/what-if-i-couldn-t-handle-people-s-opinions-of-me-i-know-that-shouldn/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [Illiterates have to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/illiterates-have-to-dictate/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As a major contemporary composer, Madonna should not let the eye dictate to the ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-major-contemporary-composer-madonna-should-not-let-the-eye/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“Your Purpose Should Dictate How You Spend Your Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-johnson-padgitt/your-purpose-should-dictate-how-you-spend-your-time/) [Brenda Johnson Padgitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-johnson-padgitt/) > [Collaborate, don't dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/collaborate-don-t-dictate/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [I dictate the pace of my fights and no one else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rockhold/i-dictate-the-pace-of-my-fights-and-no-one-else/) [Luke Rockhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rockhold/) > [“I don’t want what I’m afraid of to dictate every move I make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/i-don-t-want-what-i-m-afraid-of-to-dictate-every-move-i-make/) [Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/) > [You can get much easier shots just by staying patient and getting to what you want, not letting the defense dictate what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaren-jackson-jr/you-can-get-much-easier-shots-just-by-staying-patient-and-getting-to/) [Jaren Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaren-jackson-jr/) > [We're all very sensitive that Jim has the shortest history with the band. He wants to be somewhat of a free agent. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-re-all-very-sensitive-that-jim-has-the-shortest-history-with-the/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) [Browse all 160 Dictate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sheldon Richman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-more-power-government-has-to-provide-things-the-more-power-it-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dictate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-more-power-government-has-to-provide-things-the-more-power-it-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/sheldon-richman-22286_dictate_the-more-power-government-has-to-provide_1465997.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.” — Sheldon Richman", "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": "Sheldon Richman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The more power government has to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-more-power-government-has-to-provide-things-the-more-power-it-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-more-power-government-has-to-provide-things-the-more-power-it-has/#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 } } ] } ```