Quote by J. B. Colbert

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to

Summary

This quote is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a French minister in the 17th century. It denotes the tact and strategy required in the practice of taxation. It suggests that effective taxation should aim to collect the maximum revenue from taxpayers while minimizing their resistance or discontent. The metaphor compares taxpayers to geese and their grievances to hissing sounds. Therefore, the art of taxation lies in finding ways to extract the most taxes without provoking significant opposition or protest from the public.

Topics

Taxation

By J. B. Colbert

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