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Meaning
The quote argues that taxation should be seen as a positive responsibility of citizenship, not as something people are penalized for when they earn money. It suggests gratitude and civic duty should shape how people think about paying taxes.
When It Was Said
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Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
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About Alain de Botton
British author and public speaker
Alain de Botton is a British author and public speaker known for writing about contemporary life and for making philosophy feel useful in everyday settings. His work often turns to common experiences and asks how ideas can help explain them. Among his best-known books are Essays in Love, which sold two million copies, How Proust Can Change Your Life, Status Anxiety, and The Architecture of Happiness.
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More Duty quotes
- “I knew it all, the whole drab compass of marital disillusion; we had been through it together, the Army and I…”Evelyn Waugh
- “The greatest duty of mankind lies in the proper uprearing of our children. The fact is recognized, but is the…”George F. Butler
- “Why is it that we are so busy with the future? It is not our province; and is there not a criminal interferen…”William Ellery Channing
More Wealth quotes
- “Structurally, by reason of their smaller numbers and greater resources, virtually all ruling classes enjoy an…”Perry Anderson
- “God's people are not to accumulate stuff for tomorrow but to share indiscriminately with the scandalous and h…”Shane Claiborne
- “I think organized labor is a necessary part of democracy. Organized labor is the only way to have fair distri…”Dolores Huerta
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Books by Alain de Botton
The Architecture of Happiness
2008
The news
2014
The course of love
2016
Religion for Atheists
2012
The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
2009