Justice John Marshall: Power to Destroy

Posted by admin on Friday, March 18, 2016

Chief Justice John Marshall Quote saying the government has the ability to destroy with taxes and must exercise care in how they tax. Chief Justice John Marshall said:
 

 

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy” — Chief Justice John Marshall

 

 

This famous quote from Chief Justice John Marshall recognizes the immense authority that is granted by a government’s ability to levy taxes. By stating that “the power to tax involves the power to destroy”, Marshall was acknowledging that taxation provides a means to potentially undermine or ruin individuals, organizations, industries, or even governments.

If taken to an extreme degree through excessively high tax rates or extremely broad tax bases, the ability to tax theoretically allows obliterating the taxed entity through financial hardship.

Therefore, Marshall’s quote serves as a warning that the power conferred by taxation must be judiciously applied and reasonably limited, as its misuse could border on governmental overreach and abuse of power through fiscal policy alone.

In essence, he is emphasizing that taxation is a tool that should be wielded responsibly due to the potential for significant harm if mishandled.

Birthday: June 1, 1833 – Death: October 14, 1911

Chief Justice John Marshall: Power to Destroy

Posted by admin on Monday, April 14, 2014

John Marshall Money Quotation saying as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that government has the ability to destroy with taxes. John Marshall said:
 

 

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy” — John Marshall

 

 

This quote from John Marshall suggests that the power to levy taxes granted to government essentially gives it the ability to demolish or ruin entities on which taxes are imposed. The best interpretation is that Marshall believed taxation, if exercised without limits, could be used destructively by crippling individuals, businesses or other organizations with excessive financial demands that exceed their means.

According to Marshall, the power to tax is so far-reaching that, taken to an extreme, it equates to a power to obliterate taxpayers’ economic viability or even existence through unsustainable levies.

The implication seems to be that taxation power must be balanced and constrained to avoid abuse that could cripple or ruin the tax base from which government itself derives resources. Overall, the quote conveys the potential for taxation to morph from a necessary function into a tyrannical tool if left unchecked.

Birthday: June 1, 1833 – Death: October 14, 1911