--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For society as a whole, nothing comes as…" description: "\"For society as a whole, nothing comes as a \"right\" to which we are \"entitled.\" Even bare subsistence has to be produced-and produced at a cost of heavy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/thomas-sowell-247_cost_for-society-as-a-whole-nothing-comes-as_2779878.jpg" --- # For society as a whole, nothing comes as a "right" to… ![“For society as a whole, nothing comes as a "right" to which we are "entitled." Even bare subsistence has to be produced-and produced at a cost of heavy toil for much of human history. The only way anyone can have a right to something that has to be produced is to force someone else to produce it…” quote by Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/thomas-sowell-247_cost_for-society-as-a-whole-nothing-comes-as_2779878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/thomas-sowell-247_cost_for-society-as-a-whole-nothing-comes-as_2779878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/thomas-sowell-247_cost_for-society-as-a-whole-nothing-comes-as_2779878.jpg) > “For society as a whole, nothing comes as a "right" to which we are "entitled." Even bare subsistence has to be produced-and produced at a cost of heavy toil for much of human history. The only way anyone can have a right to something that has to be produced is to force someone else to produce it for him. The more things are provided as rights, the less the recipients have to work and the more others have to carry their load.” [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rights that require production impose a cost; when society grants such rights, others must bear the labor. **In simple terms:** Rights need work; giving them for free shifts burden to others. Key Takeaway Consider the labor behind what you claim as a right. Themes economics labor rights social responsibility Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - welfare programs - taxation - social security - public services Key Concepts distribution incentives public policy Questions to Reflect On - How do you define a right in a modern economy? - What responsibilities come with entitlement? A Different Perspective If production is automated, the premise changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-history/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Subsistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsistence/) [Toil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toil/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Clean air shouldn't be a privilege dictated by where you can afford to live but a right to which we are all entitled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/clean-air-shouldn-t-be-a-privilege-dictated-by-where-you-can-afford/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [The rich possess ample means to realize any theory they may chuse to adopt in the education of their children, regardless of the cost;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lancaster/the-rich-possess-ample-means-to-realize-any-theory-they-may-chuse-to/) [Joseph Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lancaster/) > [He who cannot by his labor suffice for his own support has no claim to the privilege of helping himself to the money of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/he-who-cannot-by-his-labor-suffice-for-his-own-support-has-no-claim/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [ \[P\]opulation, when unchecked, goes on doubling itself every twenty-five years, or increases in a geometrical ratio. ... \[T\]he means of subsistence, under circumstances the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/p-opulation-when-unchecked-goes-on-doubling-itself-every-twenty-five/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/the-power-of-population-is-indefinitely-greater-than-the-power-in-the/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [“(On producer/consumer relationship in subsistence farming) This is the sort of interconnectedness that once defined every outpost across our emerging nation. 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