Public officers are the servants and agents of the people, to execute the laws which the people have made.
Grover ClevelandRead
When more of the people's sustenance is exacted through the form of taxation than is necessary to meet the just obligations of government and expenses of its economical administration, such exaction becomes ruthless extortion and a violation of the fundamental principles of free government.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Excessive taxation beyond what is necessary for government functions is a form of exploitation.
In this quote, Grover Cleveland emphasizes the need for a fair taxation system that only demands what is necessary to fund the essential functions of government. He warns against the dangers of over-taxation, suggesting that when the government's demand exceeds its legitimate needs, it becomes an unjust act that violates the core principles of freedom and democracy.
Themes
TaxationGovernmentFreedomExploitationJustice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about fiscal policy, one could use this quote to argue against excessive taxes.
More from Grover Cleveland
All quotes →Unswerving loyalty to duty, constant devotion to truth, and a clear conscience will overcome every discouragement and surely lead the way to usefulness and high achievement.
Grover ClevelandRead
Though the people support the government; the government should not support the people.
Grover ClevelandRead
Your every voter, as surely as your chief magistrate, exercises a public trust.
Grover ClevelandRead
It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens.
Grover ClevelandRead
Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again.
Grover ClevelandRead
Similar quotes
The chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon that and you have abandoned all.
Thomas JeffersonRead
I know not why any one but a school boy in his declamation would whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they were rich, grew corrupt; and in their corruption sold the lives and freedoms of themselves and of one another.
Samuel JohnsonRead
The responsibility of philanthropy rests with us. The wealthier we are, the more powerful we get. We cannot put the entire onus on the government.
Azim PremjiRead
Lies cannot nourish or protect you. Only freedom from fear, freedom from lies, can make us beautiful, and keep us safe.
Anne LamottRead
Nobody living can ever stop me. As I go walking my freedom highway. Nobody living can make me turn back. This land was made for you and me.
Woody GuthrieRead
When I launched the development of the GNU system, I explicitly said the purpose of developing this system is so we can use our computers and have freedom, thus if you use some other free system instead but you have freedom, then it's a success. It's not popularity for our code but it's success for our goal.
Richard StallmanRead