---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, companies are better placed…"
description: "\"Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't mean that they should not be held to accoun..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians…

![“Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't mean that they should not be held to account and follow international rules. But with the right motivation, they can be the force for change.” quote by Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg)

> “Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't mean that they should not be held to account and follow international rules. But with the right motivation, they can be the force for change.”

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

## About This Quote

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

Corporations can act faster than governments, but must still be accountable and follow global standards.

**In simple terms:** Businesses can drive change but need oversight.

Key Takeaway

Ensure corporate power is responsibly regulated.

Themes

accountability corporate power social change governance ethics

Mood

cautious optimistic

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

- business strategy
- policy advocacy
- public‑private partnerships
- ethical investing

Key Concepts

corporate social responsibility public policy regulatory frameworks

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance efficiency with accountability?
- What safeguards ensure corporations act ethically?

A Different Perspective

Corporate motives may conflict with public interest.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/)

## Related quotes

> [I really hope that more and more companies will become much better at achieving and maintaining outside-in. I hope that we will see more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bund/i-really-hope-that-more-and-more-companies-will-become-much-better-at/)

[Barbara Bund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bund/)

> [“If managers suddenly realize that they’re spending less time sitting through meetings wondering why they are there, that’s an early signal that companies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-w-blenko/if-managers-suddenly-realize-that-they-re-spending-less-time-sitting/)

Marcia W. Blenko

> [If just the presence of Tidal causes other companies to have better pay structure or to pay more attention to it moving forward, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-just-the-presence-of-tidal-causes-other-companies-to-have-better/)

[Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/)

> [All companies would be better off if they stopped trying to be amazing and just focused on being useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baer/all-companies-would-be-better-off-if-they-stopped-trying-to-be/)

[Jay Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baer/)

> [Good people have always been at the heart of the Virgin business, and that's largely because we have tried to keep our business small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/good-people-have-always-been-at-the-heart-of-the-virgin-business-and/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [When private industry makes a mistake, it gets corrected and goes away. As governments make mistakes, it gets bigger, bigger and bigger and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-private-industry-makes-a-mistake-it-gets-corrected-and-goes-away/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [Governments cannot make marriages or turn feckless individuals into responsible citizens. That needs another kind of change agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/governments-cannot-make-marriages-or-turn-feckless-individuals-into/)

[Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/)

> [“Rights" are something made up by governments to make you feel like you're buying something with your taxes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/rights-are-something-made-up-by-governments-to-make-you-feel-like-you/)

[Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/)

> [Governments do not make ideals, but ideals make governments. This is both historically and logically true. Of course the government can help to sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/governments-do-not-make-ideals-but-ideals-make-governments-this-is/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [Governments do not make ideals, but ideals make governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/governments-do-not-make-ideals-but-ideals-make-governments/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Governments can make a greater effort to encourage computer science education, especially among young girls, racial minorities, and other groups whose perspectives have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fei-fei-li/governments-can-make-a-greater-effort-to-encourage-computer-science/)

[Fei-Fei Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fei-fei-li/)

> [“What the government makes to make money is money. They make money by making money—literally printing it. While the private sector has to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-the-government-makes-to-make-money-is-money-they-make-money-by/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [The only power deserving the name is that of masses, and of governments while they make themselves the organ of the tendencies and instincts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-only-power-deserving-the-name-is-that-of-masses-and-of/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [I can't speak to being a force for change, but I take it and wear it proudly. I'll never deny it or be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/measha-brueggergosman/i-can-t-speak-to-being-a-force-for-change-but-i-take-it-and-wear-it/)

[Measha Brueggergosman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/measha-brueggergosman/)

> [The force for change I represent is of course from being a mixed-race ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/the-force-for-change-i-represent-is-of-course-from-being-a-mixed-race/)

[Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/)

## More by Taavet Hinrikus

> [When a new hire is afraid to roll up their sleeves and get things done, it's a clear sign it's not going to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/when-a-new-hire-is-afraid-to-roll-up-their-sleeves-and-get-things/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [There are so many instances in banking where 'free' simply doesn't mean free, whether it's opaque overdraft charges or credit card providers that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/there-are-so-many-instances-in-banking-where-free-simply-doesn-t-mean/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint. I don't believe it when people tell me they've been working 80-hour weeks for five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/building-a-business-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint-i-don-t-believe-it/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [In 2011, when we launched TransferWise, it was our frustration with banks not giving us what we wanted or needed as customers. The motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/in-2011-when-we-launched-transferwise-it-was-our-frustration-with/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Scaling a business at speed can feel like an out of control roller-coaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/scaling-a-business-at-speed-can-feel-like-an-out-of-control-roller/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [The financial crisis of 2008 created a seismic shift in the dynamics of trust in financial services. FinTech would have happened without the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/the-financial-crisis-of-2008-created-a-seismic-shift-in-the-dynamics/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Costs should always be presented up front so that consumers can make informed choices and get a fairer deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/costs-should-always-be-presented-up-front-so-that-consumers-can-make/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Securing and attracting the best talent is an obsession in the tech industry for good reason. It's your main asset; it's your edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/securing-and-attracting-the-best-talent-is-an-obsession-in-the-tech/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Historically, people have flocked to Silicon Valley because of the belief that that's where the latest innovation is happening. It's a snowball effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/historically-people-have-flocked-to-silicon-valley-because-of-the/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [A preoccupation with job title is an immediate giveaway that someone's priorities are not in line with the company's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/a-preoccupation-with-job-title-is-an-immediate-giveaway-that-someone/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [The growth of FinTech has been driven by adoption across age groups, but the demand from the millennial generation to innovate and think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/the-growth-of-fintech-has-been-driven-by-adoption-across-age-groups/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [As consumers in general, and with Millennials in particular, we're getting used to everything being cheaper, faster, better - and banks aren't keeping up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/as-consumers-in-general-and-with-millennials-in-particular-we-re/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [There's always been a lot of interest in the tech community about how to foster innovation and creativity - both within a company but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/there-s-always-been-a-lot-of-interest-in-the-tech-community-about-how/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Traditional consumer finance has been unfair for decades. Banks have had a monopoly on financial services and have been able to overcharge and underserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/traditional-consumer-finance-has-been-unfair-for-decades-banks-have/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

> [Without immigration, nations would stagnate. It is key for innovation and for economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/without-immigration-nations-would-stagnate-it-is-key-for-innovation/)

[Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

[Explore all 75 Taavet Hinrikus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

Browse all 17,085 Better quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't mean that they should not be held to account and follow international rules. But with the right motivation, they can be the force for change.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Taavet Hinrikus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-than-politicians-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-than-politicians-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/taavet-hinrikus-9070_better_sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-th_396011.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes, companies are better placed than politicians and governments to make change happen. That doesn't…” — Taavet Hinrikus",
                "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": "Taavet Hinrikus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes, companies are better placed than...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-than-politicians-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/sometimes-companies-are-better-placed-than-politicians-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
