Consent Quote by George Mason
“We will not submit to have our own money taken out of our pockets without our consent; because if any man or any set of men take from us without our consent or that of our representatives one shilling in the pound we have not security for the remaining nineteen. We owe to our mother country the duty of subjects but will not pay her the submission of slaves.”
About This Quote
Source Document: Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
He argues that taxation without representation is illegitimate and threatens liberty.
In simple terms: Tax without consent is unjust.
Key Takeaway
Demand representation before paying taxes.
Themes
freedom
taxation
representation
sovereignty
Mood
defiant
principled
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- citizen protest
- legislative debate
- tax policy
- civil rights
Key Concepts
social contract
political legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does consent shape fiscal authority?
- What alternatives exist to compulsory taxes?
A Different Perspective
May ignore practical needs of government funding.
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