Citizens Quote by Frank Chodorov
“Income and inheritance taxes imply the denial of private property, and in that are different in principle from all other taxes. The government says to the citizen: “Your earnings are not exclusively your own; we have a claim on them, and our claim precedes yours; we will allow you to keep some of it, because we recognize your need, not your right; but whatever we grant you for yourself is for us to decide.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: "The Theory of Money and Inflation" by Frank Chodorov, 1935
The quote argues that income and inheritance taxes violate private property rights, treating earnings as government property rather than individual entitlement.
In simple terms: Taxes are seen as a claim on personal earnings, not a right.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the claim on earnings.
Themes
property rights
taxation
government authority
individual liberty
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- legal challenges
- personal finance planning
- political activism
- academic discussion
Key Concepts
private property
tax policy
philosophy of ownership
Questions to Reflect On
- Is private property absolute?
- How should societies balance individual rights with collective needs?
A Different Perspective
The perspective may overlook the societal need for public services funded by taxes.
![“[When people] say 'let's do something about it,' they mean 'let's get hold of the political machinery so that we can do something to somebody else.' And that somebody is invariably you.” quote by Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ed/frank-chodorov-17300_machinery_when-people-say-let-s-do-something-about_430256.jpg)
