Acres Quote by Charles Churchill
“What it 't to us, if taxes rise or fall, Thanks to our fortune, we pay none at all. Let muckworms who in dirty acres deal, Lament those hardships which we cannot feel, His grace who smarts, may bellow if he please, But must I bellow too, who sit at ease? By custom safe, the poets' numbers flow, Free as the light and air some years ago. No statesman e'er will find it worth his pains To tax our labours, and excise our brains. Burthens like these with earthly buildings bear, No tributes laid on castles in the air.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Unhappy Lovers, 1743
The poem critiques those who avoid paying taxes while the burdens fall on the less fortunate, highlighting hypocrisy and social injustice.
In simple terms: Rich avoid taxes, poor suffer.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address tax inequities.
Themes
taxation
social justice
hypocrisy
inequality
wealth
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
satirical
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public finance reform
- community activism
- education on civic duty
Key Concepts
economic disparity
moral responsibility
political power
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tax avoidance affect society?
- What responsibilities do the wealthy have?
A Different Perspective
The poem’s satirical tone may oversimplify complex fiscal policy.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
