Benefits Quote by Thomas Sowell
“Weighing benefits against costs is the way most people make decisions - and the way most businesses make decisions, if they want to stay in business. Only in government is any benefit, however small, considered to be worth any cost, however large.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell, 2000
People weigh benefits versus costs, but governments often deem any benefit worth any cost, ignoring scale.
In simple terms: Governments treat any benefit as worth any cost.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cost‑benefit scaling in policy.
Themes
economics
decisionmaking
government
policy
business
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
policy
economic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- budget planning
- policy evaluation
- business strategy
- public spending
- regulatory impact
Key Concepts
cost‑benefit analysis
public choice
resource allocation
Questions to Reflect On
- How should societies balance marginal benefits against large costs?
- When is it justified to accept high costs for small gains?
A Different Perspective
Governments may overvalue marginal benefits, leading to inefficient spending.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
