Burden Quote by Willard Van Orman Quine
“We can applaud the state lottery as a public subsidy of intelligence, for it yields public income that is calculated to lighten the tax burden of us prudent abstainers at the expense of the benighted masses of wishful thinkers.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Public Subsidy of Intelligence, 1970
The lottery is framed as a clever way for the intelligent to fund themselves while the less informed bear the cost.
In simple terms: Lottery benefits the savvy, costs the naive.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden subsidies.
Themes
economics
justice
public policy
intelligence
gambling
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- social welfare programs
- lottery participation
- public opinion
- policy debate
Key Concepts
public finance
taxation
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we evaluate fairness of state-run lotteries?
- What alternatives could fund public services without regressive impacts?
A Different Perspective
Assumes a clear divide between "prudent abstainers" and "benighted masses," which may oversimplify.
![“Some have said that the thesis [of indeterminacy] is a consequence of my behaviorism. Some have said that it is a reductio ad absurdum of my behaviorism. I disagree with this second point, but I agree with the first. I hold further that the behaviorism approach is mandatory. In psychology one may…” quote by Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e0/willard-van-orman-quine-10137_ads_some-have-said-that-the-thesis-of-indete_315688.jpg)
