Ends Quote by Jean-Baptiste Say
“And let no government imagine, that, to strip them of the power of defrauding their subjects, is to deprive them of a valuable privilege. A system of swindling can never be long lived, and must infallibly in the end produce much more loss than profit.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Economic Treatises of Jean-Baptiste Say, 1803
Governments that rely on exploiting citizens cannot sustain themselves; corruption erodes wealth and legitimacy.
In simple terms: Corrupt rule collapses over time.
Key Takeaway
Avoid policies that enable fraud.
Themes
politics
ethics
economics
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- policy design
- anti‑corruption reforms
- citizen oversight
Key Concepts
public choice
institutional decay
moral hazard
Questions to Reflect On
- How can transparency reduce abuse of power?
- What safeguards protect citizens from systemic fraud?
A Different Perspective
Corruption may persist if unchecked by strong institutions.
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