Esther Dyson: Owning IP Payoff

Esther Dyson Money Quote saying Owning IP requires regular investment to get a payoff – instead of simply collecting rent. Esther Dyson said:
 

 

“Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can’t simply sit back and collect rent” — Esther Dyson

In this quote, Esther Dyson is drawing a comparison between intellectual property (IP) and owning land as an asset. She suggests that while land ownership can generate ongoing income through rent collection, intellectual property is not passive in the same way.

Dyson states that with IP, one must continuously “invest in it again and again” through ongoing development, marketing and legal protection in order to “get a payoff” in the form of revenue generation.

Her view is that IP requires active stewardship and further development over time to maintain its value, unlike land which can passively generate income.

The quote conveys Dyson’s message that intellectual property must be nurtured and expanded continually through work in order to yield financial returns, rather than being a static asset from which money can be earned without further effort.

Al Capone: Legal Taxes, Illegal Money

Al Capone Money Quote saying somehow it seems wrong to tax funds that are gained by criminal activity. Al Capone said:
 

 

“They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money” — Al Capone

In this quote, Al Capone seems to be cynically pointing out a limitation or contradiction within the legal system as it relates to criminal enterprises. Some key points:

• Capone notes that money earned through illegal means, such as criminal activities like racketeering, cannot be taxed by the government in the same way as lawful income.
• He appears to be implying that this allows those engaged in organized crime to avoid paying taxes on huge ill-gotten profits, since reporting illegal income would be self-incriminating.
• Capone’s comment suggests he views this as almost a loophole that enables criminal organizations to reap financial benefits from unlawful operations while evading significant tax obligations on their earnings.

Overall, the quote reflects Capone’s perspective that laws against tax evasion could not be fully enforced against himself and his criminal organization since much of their wealth was accumulated not through legal businesses and wages but rather the “illegal money” of organized criminal rackets that could not be reported to authorities for taxation like lawful income streams.

Birthday: January 17, 1899
Convicted of Tax Evasion on October 18, 1931
Died: January 25, 1947

Ronald Reagan: Business Collects Taxes

Ronald Reagan Money Quote saying businesses must pass along sales and other taxes on the business to the customer in order to make a profit. Ronald Reagan said:
 

 

“You can’t tax business. Business doesn’t pay taxes. It collects taxes. And if they can’t be passed on to the customer in the price of the product as a cost of operation, business goes out of business” — Ronald Reagan

In this quote, Ronald Reagan is expressing his view that businesses do not truly bear the cost of taxes – they instead pass those costs on to consumers through higher prices. He argues that if a business is unable to increase the prices of its products or services enough to offset tax expenses, then it will become unprofitable and “go out of business.”

Essentially, Reagan is saying that corporate taxes are not really paid by companies themselves, but rather are collected from customers through price hikes. By framing it this way, Reagan aims to make the case that tax cuts for businesses do not necessarily hurt government revenue, since lower taxes could enable companies to keep prices lower while still maintaining profits.

Overall, the quote reflects Reagan’s belief that the economic burden of corporate taxation falls on consumers, not corporations.

Birthday: February 6, 1911 – Death: June 5, 2004

Sam Ewing on Government Nerve to Collect

Sam Ewing Money Quotation saying deficits are explained by the government choice not to inflame citizens by setting taxes too high. Sam Ewing said:
 

 

“The government deficit is the difference between the amount of money the government spends and the amount it has the nerve to collect” — Sam Ewing

In this quote, American journalist and author Sam Ewing seems to be offering a tongue-in-cheek definition of the government budget deficit. He suggests the deficit arises not just from a difference in spending versus revenue collection, but also from the government’s lack of “nerve” or political will to raise sufficient funds through taxation or other means.

Ewing appears to be implying the deficit could be lower if elected officials had more courage to collect more money from citizens in taxes to cover expenditures. The quote conveys Ewing’s view that the deficit is influenced not only by accounting factors, but also by the government’s reluctance or hesitation to generate greater tax revenue through unpopular revenue-raising measures.