---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How idle then is the notion that some…"
description: "\"“How idle then is the notion that some entertain, that the establishment of this plan of government will speedily extricate us out of debt, and make us..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/thomas-cogswell-upham-60545_politics_how-idle-then-is-the-notion-that-some-en_1932239.jpg"
---

#  How idle then is the notion that some entertain, that the…

![“How idle then is the notion that some entertain, that the establishment of this plan of government will speedily extricate us out of debt, and make us a rich and flourishing people. My opinion is the reverse, that in the complete operation and effect of it, it will be an insupportable burden, that…” quote by Thomas Cogswell Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/thomas-cogswell-upham-60545_politics_how-idle-then-is-the-notion-that-some-en_1932239.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/thomas-cogswell-upham-60545_politics_how-idle-then-is-the-notion-that-some-en_1932239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/thomas-cogswell-upham-60545_politics_how-idle-then-is-the-notion-that-some-en_1932239.jpg)

> ““How idle then is the notion that some entertain, that the establishment of this plan of government will speedily extricate us out of debt, and make us a rich and flourishing people. My opinion is the reverse, that in the complete operation and effect of it, it will be an insupportable burden, that will sink us the deeper under our present embarrassments.””

[Thomas Cogswell Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cogswell-upham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The plan intended to solve debt may instead become a heavy burden, worsening financial woes.

**In simple terms:** Proposed solutions can worsen problems if not carefully evaluated.

Key Takeaway

Assess policies before implementation.

Themes

economics policy debt burden

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

political economic

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- government reform
- tax policy
- financial crisis

Key Concepts

public finance risk analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports the plan?
- How can unintended consequences be mitigated?

A Different Perspective

Optimism without data can mislead decision‑makers.

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