No generation has a right to contract debts greater than can be paid off during the course of its own existence
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Jefferson asserts no generation should incur debt exceeding what it can pay off during its lifetime.
- In plain terms
- A generation should not leave unpaid debts to future generations.
- What can you take from it?
- Each generation must pay its own debts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who pays for today's spending?
- How should debts be allocated?
Another view
Emergency spending may sometimes require long-term borrowing.
More from Thomas Jefferson
As pure a son of liberty as I have ever known.
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