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Giveth Quotes

Old-fashioned words for gains that can vanish

These quotes borrow the old-fashioned verb for giving to describe how quickly a benefactor, whether a city government or a company founder, can also take something back.

If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away.

Quotes by Stephen Harper

Grove giveth and Gates taketh away.

Quotes by Robert Metcalfe

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the common structure behind these quotes?
Each one pairs the same source of benefit with the power to withdraw it, using an old-fashioned way of saying give and take.
Who or what is credited with giving in the first quote?
A city government is described as the source of a benefit that can just as easily be taken away.
Is the second quote about a different kind of institution?
Yes, it references a well-known technology founder in place of a government body.
Do these quotes describe money specifically?
They're written broadly enough to apply to money, opportunity, or favor rather than one narrow thing.
What tone do these quotes take overall?
They read as wry and a little resigned, acknowledging that benefits from powerful sources rarely feel permanent.

Both examples pair the same institution with its power to grant an advantage and later withdraw it just as easily.