Appropriation Quote by Grover Cleveland
“I feel obliged to withhold my approval of the plan to indulge in benevolent and charitable sentiment through the appropriation of public funds ... I find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Presidential address, 1885
Public funds should not be used for charitable acts without constitutional authority; fiscal responsibility overrides goodwill.
In simple terms: Don’t use government money for charity without legal basis.
Key Takeaway
Follow constitutional limits on spending.
Themes
government
law
charity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- budget planning
- policy drafting
- non‑profit funding
- tax allocation
Key Concepts
constitutional law
public finance
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever ethical to bypass law for good?
- What mechanisms ensure proper use of public money?
A Different Perspective
Charitable intent may clash with legal constraints.
![“The appropriation of public money always is perfectly lovely until some one is asked to pay the bill. If we are to have a billion dollars of navy, half a billion of farm relief, [etc. ] the people will have to furnish more revenue by paying more taxes. It is for them, through their Congress, to…” quote by Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b6/calvin-coolidge-764_appropriation_the-appropriation-of-public-money-always_2164807.jpg)
