"The state is or can be master of money, but in a free society it is master of very little else."

William Beveridge Politics See all quotes by William Beveridge →

quotekg

React to this quote

More by William Beveridge

“Social security must be achieved by co-operation between the State and the individual. The State should offer security for service and contribution. The State in organising security should not stifle incentive, opportunity, responsibility; in establishing a national minimum, it should leave room and encouragement for voluntary action by each individual to provide more than that minimum for himself and his family.”

“Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.”

“Spartacus Educational profiles on William Beveridge and The Beveridge Report”

“Executive Summary" of the 300-page Beveridge Report”

“The trouble in modern democracy is that men do not approach to leadership 'til they have lost the desire to lead anyone.”

“Scratch a pessimist and you find often a defender of privilege.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Maintaining decency, we could go anywhere and do all of our works -- Islam gives that liberty and scope to women ...women have to create their own fate and work out their own future."

— Sheikh Hasina

Politics1947

#freedom

"I do think that the decision is important and surprising, a very significant victory for Julian Assange. I think the press freedom implications are more complicated. The judge — while ultimately holdi…"

— Jameel Jaffer

Politics1971

#freedom

"Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all i…"

— E. B. White

Literature1899–1985

#Human Nature

"I am tied by a very solid friendship to President Senghor. He is a statesman of international standing and a remarkable administrator, a master of the French language and an authentic poet. I spoke to…"

— Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

1919–1980

#friendship