QuoteProject
It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless.
John Kenneth Galbraith
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that basic human needs don't require persuasion; those who need them will naturally seek them out.

John Kenneth Galbraith's quote emphasizes the idea that essential needs, such as food, warmth, and shelter, are inherently understood and sought after by those who experience a lack of them. The advertisement of these necessities is unnecessary since individuals who are hungry, cold, or homeless are already aware of their needs and will pursue fulfillment without external influence.

Themes

NeedAdvertisingHumanityEssentialsAwareness

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about social welfare programs, this quote can highlight the importance of understanding the needs of the underserved.

More from John Kenneth Galbraith

One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead

Similar quotes

The miser, starving his brother's body, starves also his own soul, and at death shall creep out of his great estate of injustice, poor and naked and miserable
Theodore ParkerRead
Sure, that's what I mean,' Doc Daneeka said. 'A little grease is what makes this world go round. One hand washes the other. Know what I mean? You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' Yossarian knew what he meant. That's not what I meant,' Doc Daneeka said, as Yossarian began scratching his back.
Joseph HellerRead
The soul yearns to fly home on the wings of love to the world of ideas. It longs to be freed from the chains of the body.
Jostein GaarderRead
People have learned by bitter experience that the "European fraternal union of peoples" cannot be achieved by mere phrases and pious wishes, but only by profound revolutions and bloody struggles; they have learned that the question is not that of a fraternal union of all European peoples under a single republican flag, but of an alliance of the revolutionary peoples against the counter-revolutionary peoples, an alliance which comes into being not on paper, but only on the battlefield.
Friedrich EngelsRead
Bad ideas flourish because they are in the interest of powerful groups.
Paul KrugmanRead
To kill, in war or in any circumstance, creates a silence. It is right that silence should surround the taking of life. After all, the life taken is not ours to take.
Stanley HauerwasRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.