The one measures its prosperity, by the quantity of revenue it extorts; the other proves its excellence, by the small quantity of taxes it requires.
Thomas Paine: “The one measures its prosperity, by the quantity of revenue it extorts; the other proves its excellence, by the small…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine concludes his comparison by noting that old governments measure prosperity by revenue extracted, while new governments demonstrate excellence through low taxation.
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