Jean-Baptiste Colbert Plucking Tax Goose

Posted by admin on Saturday, April 11, 2015

Jean-Baptiste Colbert Money Quotation saying we are taxed at a rate that we will stand for and object more violently as rate increases. Jean-Baptiste Colbert said:
 

 

“The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing” — Jean-Baptiste Colbert

 

 

This quote from French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert refers to the practice of taxation and methods for collecting revenue from citizens. The “goose” being plucked represents taxpayers, while the “feathers” symbolize the funds being collected.

Colbert’s point is that the ideal tax system maximizes the amount of money generated for the government through things like income, sales, property or other levies.

However, it does so while minimizing public complaints, protests or “hissing” about the perceived tax burden. In other words, the quote advocates for taxation approaches that are efficient at raising funds but do so in a manner that causes the least amount of disruption, dissatisfaction or unrest among those paying taxes.

Colbert aims to convey that the “art” of taxation is balancing revenue maximization with political acceptability and public contentment regarding fiscal policies.