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About this quote

What does it mean?
Taxation alone cannot create economic prosperity.
In plain terms
You cannot lift yourself up by your own bootstraps.
What can you take from it?
Economic growth requires more than just taxing citizens.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • economic planning
  • tax reform

Putting it to work

  • diversify revenue
  • invest in growth
  • review tax policy

Questions to consider

  • What drives prosperity?
  • How should governments fund services?

Another view

Taxation can play a role in funding growth initiatives.

More from Winston Churchill

  1. A modest man, who has much to be modest about.

    Permalink to quote #116
  2. An old town clerk looking at European affairs through the wrong end of a municipal drainpipe

    Permalink to quote #118
  3. Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed. (to be found in 'My Early Life', the story of his first 25 years).

    Permalink to quote #115

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