--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can scarcely contemplate a greater…" description: "\"I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge. If ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/marcus-junius-brutus-the-young_ability_i-can-scarcely-contemplate-a-greater-cal_1557135.jpg" --- # I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could… ![“I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge. If this be a just remark, it is unwise and improvident to vest in the general government a power to borrow at discretion, without any limitation or…” quote by Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/marcus-junius-brutus-the-young_ability_i-can-scarcely-contemplate-a-greater-cal_1557135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/marcus-junius-brutus-the-young_ability_i-can-scarcely-contemplate-a-greater-cal_1557135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/marcus-junius-brutus-the-young_ability_i-can-scarcely-contemplate-a-greater-cal_1557135.jpg) > “I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge. If this be a just remark, it is unwise and improvident to vest in the general government a power to borrow at discretion, without any limitation or restriction.” [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive national debt threatens a state's stability and future. **In simple terms:** Too much debt endangers a country. Key Takeaway Limit borrowing to preserve fiscal health. Themes economics politics responsibility Mood cautious serious Type political economic When to use this quote - budget planning - policy debate - national budgeting Key Concepts public debt government finance Questions to Reflect On - Can debt ever be fully eliminated? - What safeguards can prevent reckless borrowing? A Different Perspective Political realities may force compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Borrow Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrow-discretion-5833024/) [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Contemplating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplating/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Debt Exceeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt-exceeding-5833023/) [Discharge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discharge/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Discretion Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion-limitation-5833025/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Loaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loaded/) [Loaded Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loaded-debt-4675506/) [Remarks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarks/) [Restriction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restriction/) [Unwise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwise/) [Vests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vests/) ## Related quotes > [Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/students-who-acquire-large-debts-putting-themselves-through-school-2/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Vests are flair for men. It's one of the few ways men can accent themselves in a formal yet fun fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-wareheim/vests-are-flair-for-men-it-s-one-of-the-few-ways-men-can-accent/) [Eric Wareheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-wareheim/) > [Piper went a little crazy. She cried out with relief and dove straight into the water. What was she thinking? She didn't take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/piper-went-a-little-crazy-she-cried-out-with-relief-and-dove-straight/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Pierre Curie voluntarily exposed his arm to the action of radium for several hours. This resulted in damage resembling a burn that developed progressively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-curie/pierre-curie-voluntarily-exposed-his-arm-to-the-action-of-radium-for/) [Marie Curie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-curie/) > [I use a lot of weighted vests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/i-use-a-lot-of-weighted-vests/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [To vest a few fallible men — prosecutors, judges, jurors — with vast powers of literary or artistic censorship, to convert them into what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-vest-a-few-fallible-men-prosecutors-judges-jurors-with-vast-powers/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [ The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war \[and\] the power of raising armies… A… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusively-vests-in-the-legislature/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [For the last time, you cannot wear that cropped fleece vest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/for-the-last-time-you-cannot-wear-that-cropped-fleece-vest/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [Although she was aware that somewhere under her complicated strata of vests and petticoats there was some skin, that didn't mean to say she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/although-she-was-aware-that-somewhere-under-her-complicated-strata-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [What do you do?' she asks, holding out the vest. 'What do you do?' 'What do you do?' she asks, her voice shaking. 'Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/what-do-you-do-she-asks-holding-out-the-vest-what-do-you-do-what-do/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [ The Constitution does not vest in Congress the authority to protect society from every bad act that might befall it…\[I\]f followed to its logical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-does-not-vest-in-congress-the-authority-to-protect/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Logan, why aren't you wearing protection?" The radio crackled, and then came Logan's voice. "I have 'protection' in my bag," he said. "But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/logan-why-aren-t-you-wearing-protection-the-radio-crackled-and-then/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [The naturalistic literature of this country has reached such a state that no family of characters is considered true to life whichdoes not include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-naturalistic-literature-of-this-country-has-reached-such-a-state/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [You can do all them push-ups to pump up your chest, I got a 12 gauge Mossberg to pump up your chest, Have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/you-can-do-all-them-push-ups-to-pump-up-your-chest-i-got-a-12-gauge/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) ## More by Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger > [The object of every free government is the public good, and all lesser interests yield to it. That of every tyrannical government, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/the-object-of-every-free-government-is-the-public-good-and-all-lesser/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) > [What can be happier than for a man, conscious of virtuous acts, and content with liberty, to despise all human affairs? \[Lat., Quid enim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/what-can-be-happier-than-for-a-man-conscious-of-virtuous-acts-and-2/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) > [By all means must we fly; not with our feet, however, but with our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/by-all-means-must-we-fly-not-with-our-feet-however-but-with-our-hands/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) > [Virtue, vain word, futile shadow, slave of chance! Alas! I believe in thee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/virtue-vain-word-futile-shadow-slave-of-chance-alas-i-believe-in-thee/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) > [The origin of society, then, is to be sought, not in any natural right which one man has to exercise authority over another, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/the-origin-of-society-then-is-to-be-sought-not-in-any-natural-right/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) > [I have not come to praise Caesar, but to bury him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/i-have-not-come-to-praise-caesar-but-to-bury-him/) [Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) [Explore all 7 Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-junius-brutus-the-younger/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge. 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