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About this quote

What does it mean?
True economy is not just saving money but spending wisely where needed.
In plain terms
Spending a lot can be part of being economical.
What can you take from it?
Focus on value, not just low cost.

Where it applies

  • budgeting
  • project management
  • public policy

Putting it to work

  • invest where it matters
  • avoid false frugality

Questions to consider

  • When is expensive actually cheap?
  • How do you define economy?

Another view

Spending heavily can still be wasteful if not effective.

More from Edmund Burke

  1. Under the pressure of the cares and sorrows of our mortal condition, men have at all times, and in all countries, called in some physical aid to their moral co…

    Permalink to quote #34
  2. Economy is a distributive virtue, and consists not in saving but selection. Parsimony requires no providence, no sagacity, no powers of combination, no compari…

    Permalink to quote #36
  3. And having looked to Government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them.

    Permalink to quote #33

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