Believe Quote by J. Reuben Clark
“Do you know that all of the money that we are spending, that the government is spending, must come from you? The government has no great pile of gold to which it can go to get what it gives you. The government has not one cent that it does not take from your pockets. Do not imagine, do not believe, do not go on the theory that you are not to pay this bill, unless the fundamentals of our government are to be overturned.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1965
The quote stresses that all government spending ultimately comes from taxpayers, and that no hidden reserves exist to fund public services without citizen contributions.
In simple terms: Government spending comes from citizens' taxes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize your role in funding public services.
Themes
taxes
government
citizen responsibility
public finance
accountability
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
political
educational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- paying taxes
- budget planning
- public policy debates
- civic education
Key Concepts
fiscal policy
social contract
economic burden
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your tax contribution affect your community?
- What would change if taxes were reduced?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all citizens benefit equally from government services, which may not be true for everyone.
![“We [Federal Government] have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work.” quote by Henry Morgenthau, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5fc/henry-morgenthau-jr-56524_doe_we-federal-government-have-tried-spendin_914120.jpg)
