--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone may arrange his affairs so that…" description: "\"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. Ther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/learned-hand-5343_affair_anyone-may-arrange-his-affairs-so-that-h_3056232.png" --- # Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be… ![“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging…” quote by Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/learned-hand-5343_affair_anyone-may-arrange-his-affairs-so-that-h_3056232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/learned-hand-5343_affair_anyone-may-arrange-his-affairs-so-that-h_3056232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5a/learned-hand-5343_affair_anyone-may-arrange-his-affairs-so-that-h_3056232.png) > “Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.” [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tax avoidance is legal and not a civic duty; individuals may minimize taxes within the law. **In simple terms:** Legal to reduce taxes; not a patriotic duty. Key Takeaway Minimize taxes lawfully. Themes law taxation ethics Mood analytical critical Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance planning - business structuring - policy debate Key Concepts legal theory public finance Questions to Reflect On - Is tax minimization ethical? - How should societies balance fairness and legality? A Different Perspective Legal minimization may erode public services. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) [Taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxation/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Taxpayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxpayers/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/there-is-nothing-sinister-in-so-arranging-one-s-affairs-as-to-keep/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/any-one-may-so-arrange-his-affairs-that-his-taxes-shall-be-as-low-as/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/here-is-my-principle-taxes-shall-be-levied-according-to-ability-to/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I don't need anybody's money, it's nice.I'm totally self-funding my campaign, and the people like that, because you know, when they come to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-don-t-need-anybody-s-money-it-s-nice-i-m-totally-self-funding-my/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Traditionally, Conservatives have argued that low taxes are a route to self-determination. I agree. It is vital we keep taxes low and the size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/traditionally-conservatives-have-argued-that-low-taxes-are-a-route-to/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [There's no reason to raise taxes. Taxes should be lower... 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That's my campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-wilson/if-new-mexican-voters-believe-the-path-to-create-american-jobs-is/) [Heather Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-wilson/) > [I think for some, the very wealthiest among us, for corporations, taxes are too low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-think-for-some-the-very-wealthiest-among-us-for-corporations-taxes/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) > [New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/new-york-state-is-upside-down-and-backwards-high-taxes-and-low/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [“Or you could simply throw down a few inches of compost and fake it. That's what we do, isn't it? Do the best with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-hayes/or-you-could-simply-throw-down-a-few-inches-of-compost-and-fake-it/) [Suzanne Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-hayes/) > [I consider it my patriotic duty as an ordinary citizen - not as Secretary of State - to ask questions. I think we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-consider-it-my-patriotic-duty-as-an-ordinary-citizen-not-as/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Can't wait for tomorrow when I get to exercise my patriotic duty as an American: Complaining about how long it's taking to VOTE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/can-t-wait-for-tomorrow-when-i-get-to-exercise-my-patriotic-duty-as/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Patriotic duty and the disease of nationalism lure us to deny our common humanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/patriotic-duty-and-the-disease-of-nationalism-lure-us-to-deny-our/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) ## More by Learned Hand > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... 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