---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one person has a right to something he…"
description: "\"If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg"
---

#  If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of…

![“If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn.” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg)

> “If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn.”

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

## About This Quote

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

If rights are unearned, they must be taken from those who earned theirs.

**In simple terms:** Unearned rights conflict with earned rights.

Key Takeaway

Recognize earned entitlements.

Themes

property justice economics

Mood

analytical critical

Type

political economic

When to use this quote

- tax policy
- labor negotiations
- resource allocation

Key Concepts

rights theory distribution fairness

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance unearned vs. earned rights?
- What limits should exist on redistribution?

A Different Perspective

Rights are not absolute; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Earn Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-necessity-3310134/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) [Necessity Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity-requires-3310133/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires/) [Requires Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-person-246581/)

## Related quotes

> [“necessity is an independent concept. It has a different structure from logic, morals, or meaning. Its function lies entirely in the role it plays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/necessity-is-an-independent-concept-it-has-a-different-structure-from/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [Every art requires the whole person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-proverb/every-art-requires-the-whole-person/)

[French Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-proverb/)

> [I don't indulge in the luxury of feeling when necessity requires that we meet a target. One just bucks up and does it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/i-don-t-indulge-in-the-luxury-of-feeling-when-necessity-requires-that/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [Real and lasting generosity requires that a person do more than make up his mind to give. He must also make up his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/real-and-lasting-generosity-requires-that-a-person-do-more-than-make/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [In addition, the bill passed by the House requires a person performing an abortion on a minor from a different state to notify one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-goode/in-addition-the-bill-passed-by-the-house-requires-a-person-performing/)

[Virgil Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-goode/)

> [A planet full of people meant nothing against the dictates of economic necessity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac/a-planet-full-of-people-meant-nothing-against-the-dictates-of/)

[Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac/)

> [My long struggles as a soldier of the Chinese Revolution have forced me to realize the necessity of facing hard facts. There will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/my-long-struggles-as-a-soldier-of-the-chinese-revolution-have-forced/)

[Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/)

> [To understand a philosopher requires a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/to-understand-a-philosopher-requires-a-philosopher/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [I was just born involved in politics. My family is conservative Mormon, and so I was born - although the Mormon faith is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyrsten-sinema/i-was-just-born-involved-in-politics-my-family-is-conservative-mormon/)

[Kyrsten Sinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyrsten-sinema/)

> [I love doing characters that challenge me. I'd love to do something that requires me to change physically or learn a skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-riley/i-love-doing-characters-that-challenge-me-i-d-love-to-do-something/)

[Charlotte Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-riley/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [It requires bravery to do something no one else around you is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/it-requires-bravery-to-do-something-no-one-else-around-you-is-doing/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

> [Each one of us requires the spur of insecurity to force us to do our best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-w-dodds/each-one-of-us-requires-the-spur-of-insecurity-to-force-us-to-do-our/)

[Harold W. Dodds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-w-dodds/)

> [Change of any sort requires courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/change-of-any-sort-requires-courage/)

[Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

## More by Walter E. Williams

> [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

[Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

## More Economic quotes

> [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/)

[Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

[Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

[Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/)

[Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/)

> [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/)

[F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/)

> [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [In short, both experience and economic theory imply that the US could now t to a more competitive dollar without experiencing either increased inflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-feldstein/in-short-both-experience-and-economic-theory-imply-that-the-us-could/)

[Martin Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-feldstein/)

> [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/)

[Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/)

> [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/)

[Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/)

[Browse all 6,235 Economic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Walter E. Williams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-he-did-not-earn-of-necessity/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Economic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-he-did-not-earn-of-necessity/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/walter-e-williams-2709_economic_if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-h_360366.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not…” — Walter E. Williams",
                "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": "Walter E. Williams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If one person has a right...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-he-did-not-earn-of-necessity/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-one-person-has-a-right-to-something-he-did-not-earn-of-necessity/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```