--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a…" description: "\"Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a majority vote in Congress… I'm healthy; subsidized prescription drugs won't do me much good. I'd be willing to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_thou-shalt-not-steal-unless-thou-hast-a_1981549.png" --- # Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a majority vote in… ![“Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a majority vote in Congress… I'm healthy; subsidized prescription drugs won't do me much good. I'd be willing to forego my prescription drugs if Congress would force some young American to mow my lawn.” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_thou-shalt-not-steal-unless-thou-hast-a_1981549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_thou-shalt-not-steal-unless-thou-hast-a_1981549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_thou-shalt-not-steal-unless-thou-hast-a_1981549.png) > “Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a majority vote in Congress… I'm healthy; subsidized prescription drugs won't do me much good. I'd be willing to forego my prescription drugs if Congress would force some young American to mow my lawn.” [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. Political satire highlights absurdity of conditional aid, urging personal responsibility over bureaucratic solutions. **In simple terms:** Aid should be fair, not political. Key Takeaway Promote personal responsibility. Themes politics health fairness Mood critical humorous Type political social commentary When to use this quote - healthcare reform - personal budgeting - community volunteering - legislative advocacy Key Concepts Libertarian economics public policy Questions to Reflect On - What fair alternatives exist for healthcare? - How can individuals help without waiting for policy? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on government can erode self‑reliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-healthy-3385708/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-congress-3385706/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Healthy Subsidized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-subsidized-3385709/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lawns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawns/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Majority vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-vote/) [Prescription drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescription-drugs/) [Prescriptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescriptions/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Subsidized Prescription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidized-prescription-3385707/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-congress-2218063/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [Every special interest is entitled to justice - full, fair, and complete... but not one is entitled to a vote in Congress, to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-special-interest-is-entitled-to-justice-full-fair-and-complete/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a mere filmmaker. I am not even aligned to any political party. I vote for the Congress party, and I root for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-bhatt/i-am-a-mere-filmmaker-i-am-not-even-aligned-to-any-political-party-i/) [Mahesh Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-bhatt/) > [Most Americans, who think Congress has a right to do anything for which they can get a majority vote, ignore the clearly written constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/most-americans-who-think-congress-has-a-right-to-do-anything-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [I believe in helping our fellow man in need. I believe that reaching into your own pockets to help someone in need is praiseworthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/i-believe-in-helping-our-fellow-man-in-need-i-believe-that-reaching/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/moral-principles-do-not-depend-on-a-majority-vote-wrong-is-wrong-even/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Democracy is about voting and it's about a majority vote. And it's time that we started exercising the Democratic process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/democracy-is-about-voting-and-it-s-about-a-majority-vote-and-it-s/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-north/thou-shalt-not-steal-except-by-majority-vote/) [Gary North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-north/) > [Majorities can be wrong, majorities can overrule rights of minorities. If majorities ruled, we could still have slavery. 80% of the population once enslaved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/majorities-can-be-wrong-majorities-can-overrule-rights-of-minorities/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [When a legislature decides to steal some of our rights and plans to use police force to accomplish it, what's the real difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-richardson/when-a-legislature-decides-to-steal-some-of-our-rights-and-plans-to/) [H. L. Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-richardson/) > [Don't make decisions by majority vote. The majority is almost always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/don-t-make-decisions-by-majority-vote-the-majority-is-almost-always/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [“Scientific questions cannot be decided by majority vote in any case.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/scientific-questions-cannot-be-decided-by-majority-vote-in-any-case/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Truth is not determined by a majority vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/truth-is-not-determined-by-a-majority-vote/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Truth is not arrived at by majority vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-atkins/truth-is-not-arrived-at-by-majority-vote/) [Peter Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-atkins/) > [A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/a-democracy-cannot-exist-as-a-permanent-form-of-government-it-can/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [Decision by democratic majority vote is a fine form of government, but it's a stinking way to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/decision-by-democratic-majority-vote-is-a-fine-form-of-government-but/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) ## 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 Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [So our focus has to be on the things that we can control, which is to take the necessary measures working with Congress to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/so-our-focus-has-to-be-on-the-things-that-we-can-control-which-is-to/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) [United States Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/united-states-congress/) > [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [My younger self could not imagine standing on the floor of Congress as a member of Congress voting on legislation that, if enacted, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/my-younger-self-could-not-imagine-standing-on-the-floor-of-congress/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) [Browse all 3,400 Congress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thou shalt not steal unless thou hast a majority vote in Congress… I'm healthy; subsidized prescription drugs won't do me much good. 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