Country Quote by Calvin Coolidge
“The property of the people belongs to the people. To take it from them by taxation cannot be justified except by urgent public necessity. Unless this principle be recognized our country is no longer secure, our people no longer free.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that private property is a fundamental right and that taxation is only legitimate when it serves an urgent public need; otherwise it threatens liberty and security.
In simple terms: Property rights vs. taxation
Key Takeaway
Taxation must be justified by necessity
Themes
property rights
taxation
civil liberty
government authority
public necessity
Mood
defiant
cautious
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- budget crises
- war funding
- social welfare programs
- tax reform discussions
Key Concepts
property
taxation
public good
freedom
Practical Applications
- policy analysis
- civic education
Questions to Reflect On
- When does taxation become unjust?
- How should societies balance individual rights with communal needs?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that taxation is a collective responsibility to fund essential services, not merely an emergency measure.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
