There is a great deal of ruin in a nation.
— Correspondence
The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.
Where this quote comes from
This is the first of the four maxims of taxation that Adam Smith sets out in The Wealth of Nations, Book V. The full sentence specifies that ability means income: people should pay in proportion to the revenue they enjoy under the protection of the state. The other three maxims say taxes should be certain, convenient to pay and cheap to collect.
Source: The Wealth of Nations (1776), Book V, Chapter II, Part II
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