"A man condemning the income tax because of the annoyance it gives him or the expense it puts him to is merely a dog baring its teeth, and he forfeits the privileges of civilized discourse. But it is possible to criticize it on other and impersonal grounds. A government, like an individual, spends money for any or all of three reasons: because it needs to, because it wants to, or simply because it has it to spend. The last is much the shabbiest. It is arguable, if not manifest, that a substantial portion of the great spring flood of billions pouring into the Treasury will in effect get spent for the last shabby reason."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Nero Wolfe, chapter 1
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nero_Wolfe
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Nero Wolfe
220 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Nero Wolfe →
Related Quotes
"Must I again remind you, Archie, of the reaction you would have got if you had asked Velasquez to explain why Aesop's…"
"Where's my beer?"
"I am nobody's friend. How much can you pay?"
"This is a pleasant surprise, Archie. I would not have believed it. That of course is the advantage of being a pessimi…"
"I understand the technique of eccentricity; it would be futile for a man to labor at establishing a reputation for od…"
"Compose yourself, Archie. Why taunt me? Why upbraid me? I am merely a genius, not a god. A genius may discover the hi…"
"Remember that those of us who are both civilized and prudent commit our murders only under the complicated rules whic…"
"You stick to it, Archie, like a leech to an udder."
"I'm not trying to pick a quarrel, sir. Hell no. I'm just breaking under the strain of trying to figure out a third wa…"
"If I were to begin borrowing money I would end by devising means of persuading the Secretary of the Treasury to lend …"