"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."
Nero Wolfe

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Original Language: English

Sources

Nero Wolfe, chapter 1

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nero_Wolfe