Collectors Quote by Milton Friedman
“Whenever you try to do good with someone else's money, you are committed to using force. How can you do good with somebody else's money, unless you first take it away from them? The only way you can take it away from them is the threat of force: you have a policeman, tax collector, who comes and takes it from them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman, 1962
Using others' money for good inevitably involves coercive authority, as force is required to collect taxes.
In simple terms: Good deeds with others' money need force.
Key Takeaway
Question the ethics of forced redistribution.
Themes
economics
ethics
politics
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
economic
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public finance
- charitable foundations
Key Concepts
taxation
state power
voluntary exchange
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all taxation coercive?
- Can voluntary contributions replace taxes?
A Different Perspective
Oversimplifies voluntary charity.
