--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is incumbent on every generation to…" description: "\"“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.” —Thomas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/d-r-bell-73589_debts_it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-p_2994437.jpg" --- # It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts… ![“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.” —Thomas Jefferson” quote by D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/d-r-bell-73589_debts_it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-p_2994437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/d-r-bell-73589_debts_it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-p_2994437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/d-r-bell-73589_debts_it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-p_2994437.jpg) > ““It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.” —Thomas Jefferson”” [D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each generation should settle its own debts; doing so could halve global wars. **In simple terms:** Pay your generation’s debts to reduce wars. Key Takeaway Practice fiscal responsibility. Themes economics peace generational duty Mood analytical hopeful Type historical advice When to use this quote - government budgeting - personal finance - international aid Key Concepts debt management historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - What other factors drive wars? - How can societies enforce debt responsibility? A Different Perspective Debt repayment alone won’t stop conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts/) [Debts Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts-goes-4146789/) [Pay Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-debts-480706/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principle Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-acted-4722065/) ## Related quotes > [It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-incumbent-on-every-generation-to-pay-its-own-debts-as-it-goes-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is very iniquitous to make me pay my debts - you have no idea of the pain it gives one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-very-iniquitous-to-make-me-pay-my-debts-you-have-no-idea-of-the/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I make people pay their debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-make-people-pay-their-debts/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“You simply cannot pay the debts that come along with believing you are unworthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-simply-cannot-pay-the-debts-that-come-along-with-believing-you/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [As it turns out, we don't "all" have to pay our debts. Only some of us do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/as-it-turns-out-we-don-t-all-have-to-pay-our-debts-only-some-of-us-do/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [The more we get out of the world the less we leave, and in the long run we shall have to pay our debts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/the-more-we-get-out-of-the-world-the-less-we-leave-and-in-the-long/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [We will pay the debts by growing and exporting... The only way is to export. The other channel has been exhausted, which is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-fernandez/we-will-pay-the-debts-by-growing-and-exporting-the-only-way-is-to/) [Alberto Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-fernandez/) > [I think what's important to understand is if the United States hits the debt ceiling and is unable to pay its debts, the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-chenault/i-think-what-s-important-to-understand-is-if-the-united-states-hits/) [Kenneth Chenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-chenault/) > [And that's the one thing that people do not understand is that we have very low interest rates and if those go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-quayle/and-that-s-the-one-thing-that-people-do-not-understand-is-that-we/) [Ben Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-quayle/) > [I was not born for courts and great affairs, but I pay my debts, believe and say my prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-was-not-born-for-courts-and-great-affairs-but-i-pay-my-debts/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [You are as crooked as a bank robber if you do not pay your debts on time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/you-are-as-crooked-as-a-bank-robber-if-you-do-not-pay-your-debts-on/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [In this business, if you don't pay your debts you're finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/in-this-business-if-you-don-t-pay-your-debts-you-re-finished/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [If debtors can reasonably expect that the government will swoop in from time to time to bail them out, no one has any incentive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/if-debtors-can-reasonably-expect-that-the-government-will-swoop-in/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [We can pay our debts to the past by putting the future in debt to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/we-can-pay-our-debts-to-the-past-by-putting-the-future-in-debt-to/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) ## More by D.R. Bell > [“He smirked. “Communism? Of course not. The Soviet Union fell because communism did not understand human nature. People act in their self-interest. When there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-r-bell/he-smirked-communism-of-course-not-the-soviet-union-fell-because/) [D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-bell/) > [“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.” — Alexis De Tocqueville”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-r-bell/the-american-republic-will-endure-until-the-day-congress-discovers/) [D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-bell/) > [“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” — Sun-Tzu, The Art of War”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-r-bell/in-the-midst-of-chaos-there-is-also-opportunity-sun-tzu-the-art-of-war/) [D.R. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-bell/) [Explore all 4 D.R. Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-r-bell/) ## More Debts quotes > [One of the traditional rites of passage for political candidates is the revelation of financial status - a catechism-like recital of money mistakes made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/one-of-the-traditional-rites-of-passage-for-political-candidates-is/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [“Innocent or guilty, a Lannister pays his debts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/innocent-or-guilty-a-lannister-pays-his-debts/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I formed, in early life, two purposes to which I have inflexibly adhered, under some very strong pressure from warm personal friends. They were,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/i-formed-in-early-life-two-purposes-to-which-i-have-inflexibly/) [Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/) > [“A life for a life. All debts have to be repaid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-london/a-life-for-a-life-all-debts-have-to-be-repaid/) [Alex London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-london/) > [Everyone in our society has had to make a contribution towards dealing with the debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/everyone-in-our-society-has-had-to-make-a-contribution-towards/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [And here a most heinous charge is made, that the nation has been burdened with unnecessary expenses for the sole purpose of preventing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-walpole/and-here-a-most-heinous-charge-is-made-that-the-nation-has-been/) [Robert Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-walpole/) > [Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/students-who-acquire-large-debts-putting-themselves-through-school/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [No generation has a right to contract debts greater than can be paid off during the course of its own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-generation-has-a-right-to-contract-debts-greater-than-can-be-paid/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is very iniquitous to make me pay my debts - you have no idea of the pain it gives one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-very-iniquitous-to-make-me-pay-my-debts-you-have-no-idea-of-the/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Debts and lies are generally mixed together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/debts-and-lies-are-generally-mixed-together/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [The Congo is very wealthy from oil money but is not paying its debts and at the same time is applying for special status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/the-congo-is-very-wealthy-from-oil-money-but-is-not-paying-its-debts/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [ Debts and lies are generally mixed together. \[Fr., Debtes et mensonges sont ordinairement ensemble rallies.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/debts-and-lies-are-generally-mixed-together-fr-debtes-et-mensonges/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/should-we-really-let-our-people-starve-so-we-can-pay-our-debts/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [I generally encourage people to make good on debts when they have enough money to repay them. But once a delinquency has been reported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/i-generally-encourage-people-to-make-good-on-debts-when-they-have/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they had no way of knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-their-student-debts-shouldn-t/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) [Browse all 134 Debts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.” —Thomas Jefferson”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D.R. 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