People Quotes
Every tax ought to be so contrived as both to take out and to keep out of the pockets of the people as little as possible, over and above what it brings into the public treasury of the State.
"Every tax ought to be so contrived as both to take out and to keep out of the pockets of the people as little as possible, over and above what it brings into the public treasury of the State."— Adam Smith
Download in different sizes
Meaning of this quote
A tax should impose as little extra loss and burden as possible beyond the revenue it raises.
Key takeaway:
Consider collection costs and wider burdens when evaluating a tax.
Origin of the quote
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
Who actually said this?
VerifiedWording located in the primary text; capitalization and punctuation may vary.
Source:
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
