Monday, April 6, 2009

Timely 17th century quote on taxation by Jean-Baptiste Colbert . . .

"The art of taxation consists of so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers while promoting the smallest amount of hissing."

A very timely quote by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, French Economist and Minister of Finance under King Louis XIV of France 1619-1683.

Some things never change, do they? I appreciate the humor of this man in tights!

Image from one of my antiquarian prints.



Content in a Cottage

4 comments:

kate said...

your blog has been the most interesting i have happened upon.
Politcally correct, funny, great photos....and you have the most lovely house!!! please visit our new blog,,,,though not the caliber of yours...enjoy, thanks again
kate

Sabina said...

I always enjoy your antiquarian prints so very much!!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Individual faces may change, but people don't, do they? History repeats, history repeats, history repeats itself. You have the greatest finds!!

Muddy said...

Colbert was witty and clever, but treacherous. He whipped the Sun King, Louis XIV, into a frenzy against his finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, which resulted in Fouquet's spending the rest of his life in prison.

Read more here.