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About this quote

What does it mean?
A nation cannot achieve prosperity by ruining the people who fund it.
In plain terms
You can't get rich by destroying the people who pay for things.
What can you take from it?
Protect taxpayers to ensure long-term national wealth.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • tax reform
  • economic planning

Putting it to work

  • audit tax spending
  • evaluate fiscal policies
  • consult stakeholders

Questions to consider

  • Who bears the cost of national projects?
  • Is there a better way to fund growth?

Another view

Sometimes short-term sacrifice is argued necessary for long-term gain.

More from Herbert Hoover

  1. It does not follow, because our difficulties are stupendous, because there are some souls timorous enough to doubt the validity and effectiveness of our ideals…

    Permalink to quote #36
  2. As a nation we must prevent hunger and cold to those of our people who are in honest difficulties.

    Permalink to quote #38
  3. Prosperity cannot be restored by raids upon the public Treasury.

    Permalink to quote #35

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