Acting Quote by Robert Higgs
“Notwithstanding what some regard as the institutionalization of compassion, the transfer society quashes genuine virtue. Redistribution of income by means of government coercion is a form of theft. Its supporters attempt to disguise its essential character by claiming that democratic procedures give it legitimacy, but this justification is specious. Theft is theft, whether it be carried out by one thief or by a hundred million thieves acting in concert. And it is impossible to found a good society on the institutionalization of theft.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Tragedy of the Commons” essay, 1970s
Government redistribution is framed as theft; democratic legitimation masks its coercive nature.
In simple terms: Redistribution is theft, even if democratic.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral basis of forced wealth transfer.
Themes
politics
economics
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
ethical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- tax reform
- social welfare design
- activist movements
Key Concepts
property rights
state power
redistribution
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all redistribution inherently immoral?
- How to balance equity and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Some argue redistribution can reduce inequality and improve welfare.
![“[Steven] Lerner said that unions and community organizations are, for all intents and purposes, dead. The only way to achieve their goals, therefore - the redistribution of wealth and the return of '$17 trillion' stolen from the middle class by Wall Street - is to 'destabilize the country.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/921/rush-limbaugh-28_achieve_steven-lerner-said-that-unions-and-commu_93067.jpg)
