David Ricardo：On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, Excerpt 214

If a country is insulated from all others, having no commerce with any of its neighbours, it can in no way shift any portion of its taxes from itself. A portion of the produce of its land and labour will be devoted to the service of the state; and I cannot but think that, unless it presses unequally on that class which accumulates and saves, it will be of little importance whether the taxes be levied on profits, on agricultural, or on manufactured commodities. If my revenue be 1000_l._ per annum, and I must pay taxes to the amount of 100_l._, it is of little importance whether I pay it from my revenue, leaving myself only 900_l._, or pay 100_l._ in addition for my agricultural commodities, or for my manufactured goods. If 100_l._ is my fair proportion of the expenses of the country, the virtue of taxation consists in making sure that I shall pay that 100_l._, neither more nor less; and that cannot be effected in any manner so securely as by taxes on wages, profits, or raw produce.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33310
Locator：Excerpt 214 · Verified：2026-10-19 · Verification：Short excerpt

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