“But so long as I lived under a system of Government based on force and voluntarily partook of the many facilities and privileges it created for me, I was bound to help that Government to the extent of my ability when it was engaged in a war, unless I non-co-operated with the Government and renounced to the utmost of my capacity the privileges it offered me.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Gandhi's own explanation (Autobiography / compiled in 'The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi') of why he aided the British war effort while living under their rule.
About this quote
You can't pocket the benefits of a system and disown its costs at the same time — quietly accepting the perks signs you up for the bill. The honest way out isn't enjoying the privileges while complaining about them; it's giving them up and stepping outside the arrangement you object to.
When to use it
- An employee who takes the company's bonuses can't credibly refuse its crunch deadlines without leaving.
- A resident who uses the town's roads and parks accepts a share of the taxes that fund them.
- A club member enjoying the facilities either follows its rules or resigns the membership.