--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An unlimited power to tax involves…" description: "\"An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, the power to destroy.\" — Daniel Webster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/daniel-webster-2347_destroy_an-unlimited-power-to-tax-involves-neces_2156793.jpg" --- # An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, the power… ![“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, the power to destroy.” quote by Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/daniel-webster-2347_destroy_an-unlimited-power-to-tax-involves-neces_2156793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/daniel-webster-2347_destroy_an-unlimited-power-to-tax-involves-neces_2156793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/daniel-webster-2347_destroy_an-unlimited-power-to-tax-involves-neces_2156793.jpg) > “An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, the power to destroy.” [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tax authority inherently carries the power to destroy economic stability if misused. **In simple terms:** Tax power can be destructive. Key Takeaway Use taxation responsibly. Themes politics taxation power responsibility Mood historical political Type analytical educational When to use this quote - budget planning - public finance - economic regulation - policy making Key Concepts fiscal policy government authority Questions to Reflect On - How can tax power be balanced? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Taxation can also fund public good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroy/) [Necessarily Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessarily-power-3236413/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Destroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-destroy-284336/) [Power Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-tax-401390/) [Tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) [Unlimited power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited-power/) ## Related quotes > [An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/an-unlimited-power-to-tax-involves-necessarily-a-power-to-destroy/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [“in the words of jurist John Marshall of the U.S. Supreme Court, “the power to tax involves the power to destroy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/in-the-words-of-jurist-john-marshall-of-the-u-s-supreme-court-the/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) > [“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/the-power-to-tax-involves-the-power-to-destroy/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [The power to tax is the power to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/the-power-to-tax-is-the-power-to-destroy/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [The power to tax involves the power to destroy;...the power to destroy may defeat and render useless the power to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall/the-power-to-tax-involves-the-power-to-destroy-the-power-to-destroy/) [John Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall/) > [People don't necessarily take power from you for themselves. 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Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-a-part-of-the-government-is-elective-that-makes-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Unlimited power corrupts the possessor; and this I know, that, where law ends, there tyranny begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/unlimited-power-corrupts-the-possessor-and-this-i-know-that-where-law/) [William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pitt-1st-earl-of-chatham/) > [There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/there-is-nothing-more-corrupting-nothing-more-destructive-of-the/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) ## More by Daniel Webster > [In the nature of things, those who have no property and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/in-the-nature-of-things-those-who-have-no-property-and-see-their/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/liberty-and-union-now-and-for-ever-one-and-inseparable/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we raise temples, they will crumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-we-work-on-marble-it-will-perish-if-we-work-on-brass-time-will/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [This is the Book. I have read the Bible through many times, and now make it a practice to read it through once every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/this-is-the-book-i-have-read-the-bible-through-many-times-and-now/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. 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