Thomas Dewey: Public Office vs Private Income
on Thursday, August 14, 2014Thomas Dewey Money Quotation saying if a man can’t earn more outside of politics than inside, then he doesn’t belong in government. Thomas Dewey said:
“No man should be in public office who can’t make more money in private life” — Thomas Dewey
In this quote, former Governor and prosecutor Thomas Dewey seems to be expressing the view that those who hold public office should not be there primarily for financial gain or self-enrichment. He implies that elected officials and government appointees should be able to earn more money through private sector work, if their main motivation was personal wealth accumulation.
By saying no one should be in office if they can’t make more privately, Dewey appears to be arguing that public service should attract those dedicated to the role out of a sense of duty rather than a lucrative career move.
The quote conveys Dewey’s perspective that people in power positions ideally should not feel financially dependent on those roles, but rather be sufficiently motivated to serve by non-monetary factors since more lucrative private opportunities exist.
Birthday: March 24, 1902 – Death: March 16, 1971