--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The multiplication of public offices…" description: "\"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt are indications soliciting the employme..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/thomas-jefferson-43_budgets_the-multiplication-of-public-offices-inc_3054458.jpg" --- # The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense… ![“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.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/thomas-jefferson-43_budgets_the-multiplication-of-public-offices-inc_3054458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/thomas-jefferson-43_budgets_the-multiplication-of-public-offices-inc_3054458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/thomas-jefferson-43_budgets_the-multiplication-of-public-offices-inc_3054458.jpg) > “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.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Budgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budgets/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Debt by founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt-by-founding-fathers/) [Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) [Employment Pruning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment-pruning-5095033/) [Expenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expenses/) [Government debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-debt/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Indication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indication/) [Indications Soliciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indications-soliciting-5095036/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [Multiplication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multiplication/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Pruning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pruning/) [Pruning Knife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pruning-knife-5095034/) [Public office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-office/) [Soliciting Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soliciting-employment-5095035/) ## Related quotes > [We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-must-not-let-our-rulers-load-us-with-perpetual-debt/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-preserve-our-independence-we-must-not-let-our-rulers-load-us-with/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [..avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/avoiding-likewise-the-accumulation-of-debt-not-only-by-shunning/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-with-respect-to-future-debt-would-it-not-be-wise-and-just-for/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-wish-it-were-possible-to-obtain-a-single-amendment-to-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is a wise rule and should be fundamental in a government disposed to cherish its credit, and at the same time to restrain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-wise-rule-and-should-be-fundamental-in-a-government-disposed/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The consequences arising from the continual accumulation of public debts in other countries ought to admonish us to prevent their growth in our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-consequences-arising-from-the-continual-accumulation-of-public/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Think What You Do When You Run in Debt: You Give to Another Power over Your Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-what-you-do-when-you-run-in-debt-you-give-to-another-power-over/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-contract-new-debts-is-not-the-way-to-pay-old-ones/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [States, like individuals, who observe their engagements, are respected and trusted: while the reverse is the fate of those who pursue an opposite conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/states-like-individuals-who-observe-their-engagements-are-respected/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/of-all-the-enemies-to-public-liberty-war-is-perhaps-the-most-to-be-2/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [And as the vicissitudes of Nations beget a perpetual tendency to the accumulation of debt, there ought to be in every government a perpetual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/and-as-the-vicissitudes-of-nations-beget-a-perpetual-tendency-to-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Allow a government to decline paying its debts and you overthrow all public morality-you unhinge all the principles that preserve the limits of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/allow-a-government-to-decline-paying-its-debts-and-you-overthrow-all/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [ \[Avoid\] likewise the accumulation of debt. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/avoid-likewise-the-accumulation-of-debt/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is of the greatest consequence that the debt should, with the consent of the creditors, be remoulded into such a shape as will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-of-the-greatest-consequence-that-the-debt-should-with-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Budgets quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ The only way you can do that \[decrease taxes, balance the budget, and increase military spending\] is with mirrors… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-anderson/the-only-way-you-can-do-that-decrease-taxes-balance-the-budget-and/) [John B. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-anderson/) > [Currently, the United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. annual budgets, over $900 million in fiscal year 2007, and some of that funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/currently-the-united-states-provides-22-percent-of-the-u-n-annual/) [Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The only way to learn on a zero dollar budget is to talk to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/the-only-way-to-learn-on-a-zero-dollar-budget-is-to-talk-to-people/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [The only features I've done have been on the lower-budget end, for what they were. 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