--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The subjects of every state ought to…" description: "\"The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abiliti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg" --- # The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards… ![“The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg) > “The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.” [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. Citizens should fund government proportionally to their capacity. **In simple terms:** Pay taxes based on ability. Key Takeaway Align contributions with means. Themes taxation fairness civic duty Mood reflective analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - public budgeting - citizen responsibility - policy debates Key Concepts social contract progressive contribution Questions to Reflect On - How to balance fairness and efficiency? - What defines ability? A Different Perspective May ignore ability differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Contribute Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribute-support-2840252/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Nearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-nearly-2840253/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Contribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-contribute-2840251/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Progressive taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive-taxation/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [State Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-ought-322732/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Support Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-government/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth of nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-of-nations/) ## Related quotes > [The subjects of every state ought to contribute toward 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-toward-the-support-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [For a very small expence the public can facilitate, can encourage, and can even impose upon almost the whole body of the people, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/for-a-very-small-expence-the-public-can-facilitate-can-encourage-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. 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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. 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The short answer is, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/what-did-trust-cooperation-progressive-taxation-and-the/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) ## 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. 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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 towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.", "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-towards-the-support/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-towards-the-support/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/adam-smith-1040_ability_the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-con_2715259.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as…” — 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-towards-the-support/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-subjects-of-every-state-ought-to-contribute-towards-the-support/#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 } } ] } ```