Afterlife Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letter to John Taylor, 1816
Jefferson argues that banks, by creating debt for future generations, pose a greater threat than armies because they manipulate money and future resources.
In simple terms: Banks can be more harmful than armies because they borrow from future generations.
Key Takeaway
Beware of financial systems that burden future generations.
Themes
economics
politics
ethics
history
finance
Mood
cautious
critical
thoughtful
Type
political
economic
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public budgeting
- investment decisions
- citizen activism
Key Concepts
debt
intergenerational equity
monetary policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern banking affect future generations?
- Can regulation mitigate these risks?
A Different Perspective
Banks may also fund beneficial projects, making the comparison overly simplistic.
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
