Budgets Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Financial Policy, 1795
Expanding public offices and debt signal need for fiscal pruning.
In simple terms: Control government size and debt.
Key Takeaway
Implement fiscal restraint measures.
Themes
fiscal responsibility
government
debt
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- budget planning
- policy reform
- public administration
Key Concepts
economics
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern parallels exist for fiscal pruning?
- How can debt be responsibly reduced?
A Different Perspective
Political opposition may resist cuts.
![“[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)
![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
![“The only way you can do that [decrease taxes, balance the budget, and increase military spending] is with mirrors…” quote by John B. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a1d/john-b-anderson-110630_balance_the-only-way-you-can-do-that-decrease-ta_11507.jpg)
