Benjamin Franklin: Tax of Idleness

Posted by admin on Thursday, August 19, 2010

Benjamin Franklin Money Quote counsels that laziness and self-importance tax those afflicted much more than government taxation might take from the earnings of humble hard workers.
 

 

“Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments” — Benjamin Franklin
 

 

In this quote, Benjamin Franklin is comparing the negative impacts of idleness and pride to the burdens imposed by kings and governments through taxation. His view is that being idle (lazy) or excessively proud carries greater costs than official taxes. Franklin appears to mean that idleness can waste valuable time and opportunities, while pride can breed arrogance, resentment and conflict – all of which extract a heavy toll.

Overall, the interpretation is that Franklin believed vices like laziness and vanity have the effect of an onerous tax by reducing well-being and productivity more so than monetary impositions by rulers. His message reinforces the importance of virtues like diligence and humility according to his moral philosophy.