--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The subjects of every state ought to…" description: "\"The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilitie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg" --- # The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the… ![“The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state …As Henry Home (Lord Kames) has written, a…” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg) > “The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state …As Henry Home (Lord Kames) has written, a goal of taxation should be to 'remedy inequality of riches as much as possible, by relieving the poor and burdening the rich.'” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taxation should be proportionate to ability, aiming to reduce wealth gaps by easing burdens on the poor and increasing those on the rich. **In simple terms:** Fair taxes match what people can pay, helping equality. Key Takeaway Design tax systems that reflect ability and promote equity. Themes economics fairness taxation Mood analytical policy-oriented Type economic When to use this quote - government budgeting - policy debates - social welfare programs - income redistribution Key Concepts progressive taxation social justice public finance Questions to Reflect On - What tax model best balances fairness and growth? - How can tax policy avoid discouraging productivity? A Different Perspective Implementing fair taxes can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Remedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remedy/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxation/) ## Related quotes > [The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-towards-the-support/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [If the Negro knows enough to pay taxes to support the government, he knows enough to vote; taxation and representation should go together. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/if-the-negro-knows-enough-to-pay-taxes-to-support-the-government-he/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [In dealing with the State, we ought to remember that its institutions are not aboriginal, though they existed before we were born; that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-dealing-with-the-state-we-ought-to-remember-that-its-institutions/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Therefore those governing the State ought primarily to devote themselves to the service of individual groups and of the whole commonwealth, and through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/therefore-those-governing-the-state-ought-primarily-to-devote/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [If a man has come to that point where he is no content that he says; I do not want to know any more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-a-man-has-come-to-that-point-where-he-is-no-content-that-he-says-i/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Those who wish well to the State ought to choose to places of trust men of inward principle, justified by exemplary conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-witherspoon/those-who-wish-well-to-the-state-ought-to-choose-to-places-of-trust/) [John Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-witherspoon/) > [I contend the state ought to do its thing and provide legal rights for all couples who want to be joined together for life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/i-contend-the-state-ought-to-do-its-thing-and-provide-legal-rights/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [We have a law that allows us to establish charter schools here in this state. We ought to get going on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-benson/we-have-a-law-that-allows-us-to-establish-charter-schools-here-in/) [Craig Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-benson/) > [The state ought not to intervene to prevent individuals from doing things that not only are no risk to others but are of no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/the-state-ought-not-to-intervene-to-prevent-individuals-from-doing/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I'm pro-life but I believe that the federal government ought to stay out of it. That's a decision that the people of each state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/i-m-pro-life-but-i-believe-that-the-federal-government-ought-to-stay/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [The local interest of a State ought in every case to give way to the interests of the Union. For when a sacrifice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-local-interest-of-a-state-ought-in-every-case-to-give-way-to-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“It still remains unrecognised, that to bring a child into existence without a fair prospect of being able, not only to provide food for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/it-still-remains-unrecognised-that-to-bring-a-child-into-existence/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. They find it difficult to get food, and the greater part of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-necessaries-of-life-occasion-the-great-expense-of-the-poor-they/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Sugar, rum and tobacco are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which are become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/sugar-rum-and-tobacco-are-commodities-which-are-nowhere-necessaries/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [It must never be unpatriotic to support your country against your government. It must always be unpatriotic to support your government against your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-t-byington/it-must-never-be-unpatriotic-to-support-your-country-against-your/) Steven T. Byington ## More by Adam Smith > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The effects of the division of labour, in the general business of society, will be more easily understood by considering in what manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-effects-of-the-division-of-labour-in-the-general-business-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Defense is superior to opulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/defense-is-superior-to-opulence/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“There is a great deal of ruin in a nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/there-is-a-great-deal-of-ruin-in-a-nation/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The profligacy of a man of fashion is looked upon with much less contempt and aversion, than that of a man of meaner condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-profligacy-of-a-man-of-fashion-is-looked-upon-with-much-less/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-ambition-the-desire-of-real-superiority-of-leading-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/people-of-the-same-trade-seldom-meet-together-even-for-merriment-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The liberal reward of labour, therefore, as it is the affect of increasing wealth, so it is the cause of increasing population. To complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-liberal-reward-of-labour-therefore-as-it-is-the-affect-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/it-is-not-from-the-benevolence-of-the-butcher-the-brewer-or-the-baker/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [When we have read a book or poem so often that we can no longer find any amusement in reading it by ourselves, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/when-we-have-read-a-book-or-poem-so-often-that-we-can-no-longer-find/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/we-are-but-one-of-the-multitude-in-no-respect-better-than-any-other/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) [Explore all 267 Adam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state …As Henry Home (Lord Kames) has written, a goal of taxation should be to 'remedy inequality of riches as much as possible, by relieving the poor and burdening the rich.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-toward-the-support-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-toward-the-support-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7af/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2267100.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward the support of the government, as nearly as possible…” — Adam Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The subjects of every state ought...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-toward-the-support-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-toward-the-support-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```