Appropriate Quote by James A. Garfield
“It is not part of the functions of the national government to find employment for people and if we were to appropriate a hundred millions for this purpose, we should be taxing forty millions of people to keep a few thousand employed.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1885, Address to the United States Congress
Government’s role is limited to creating conditions for employment, not directly providing jobs; massive spending would burden taxpayers for few jobs.
In simple terms: Govt should enable jobs, not fund them all.
Support policies that empower job creation without overtaxing citizens.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- budget planning
- legislative debate
- social welfare programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What incentives can stimulate private sector hiring?
- How to balance fiscal responsibility with social safety nets?
Large subsidies can create dependency.