Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: Men are daily growing poor by the very means that they take to get rich; for in the same proportion that the prices of…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1776
Men are daily growing poor by the very means that they take to get rich; for in the same proportion that the prices of all goods on hand are raised, the value of all money laid by is reduced.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

From "The American Crisis," this passage describes the paradox of inflation where attempts to get rich lead to widespread impoverishment.

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