David Rockefeller: Check for IRS Kindness
on Sunday, April 17, 2011David Rockefeller Money Quotation saying the rich rarely owe taxes because legislators have designed a system that allows them to avoid paying any money to the government – still they do pay to deflect criticism and engender good will. David Rockefeller said:
“You know, gentlemen, that I do not owe any personal income tax. But nevertheless, I send a small check, now and then, to the Internal Revenue Service out of the kindness of my heart” — David Rockefeller
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In this quote, David Rockefeller is acknowledging that as a very wealthy businessman, he technically did not owe any personal income tax. However:
- He notes that despite being legally exempt, he occasionally sends small voluntary payments to the IRS “out of the kindness of his heart.”
- This suggests he recognizes the tax system benefits the country overall, even if he himself was not required to pay income taxes personally.
- His payments seem intended as a gesture of goodwill and contribution to the system that helped enable his success, rather than out of any legal obligation.
Overall, the message is that Rockefeller is making a wry comment about his privileged tax situation, but also expressing an understanding of his role and responsibilities within the broader economy and society that the tax system supports. The quote conveys a nuanced perspective on taxes from an extremely wealthy individual.
Birthday: June 12, 1915 – Death: March 20, 2017