William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne Quotes

I have continuously said that, at the very minimum, the Bush tax cuts for income under $250,000 should be extended.

There never has been a new tax that met with public enthusiasm.

I'm for tax reform, not tax increases.

It's not hard to cut taxes.

Many states rely on sales tax as their principle source of revenue and do not have a State income tax.

I'm not feeling undertaxed. Tax reform is an important issue. You have to have an inherent sense of fairness.

I'm against tax increases on anyone, period, end of debate.

In France, and other nations, the mere will of the Prince is Law, his word takes off any man's head, imposeth taxes, or seizes any man's estate …. In England the Law is both the measure and the bound of every Subject's duty and allegiance, each man having a fixed Fundamental Right born with him, as to freedom of his person and property in his estate, which he cannot be deprived of, but either by his consent, or some crime, for which the law has imposed such a penalty or forfeiture.

Any man who lends his money to the government at the present time will forfeit all claim to common honesty and common courtesy among all true friends to the country.

The progressive feature of the income tax is the most dangerous element of democracy.

His majesty is an absolute king and not bound to give any account, to any, of his actions … yet he is so gracious and regardful a prince and was of the love and contentment of his subjects, …. That he would not think it fit to do anything of so great a consequence without acquainting them of his intentions.

The present King and Queen are popular, very, and increasingly so, but they have no message for the Labour Party who believe them, and rightly I fear, to be but the puppets of a Palace clique…. Still, it is the aristocracy which still rules England although nobody seems to believe it.

If you are a Social Democrat, then you think it's cool to pay taxes. For me, taxation is the finest expression for what politics really is.

Who can pretend that commercial imposts are, or would be, alone equal to the present and future exigencies of the Union?

No foreign ruler or man of eminence could have aroused more universal attention, received a warmer welcome or achieved greater popularity among every class of society

I do not believe it would have been possible to have continued [wartime taxes] for the purpose of carrying on the American war … The question there is whether, under all these circumstances, it was not better to conclude the peace at the present moment, before the impatience of the country on the subject had been manifested at public meetings, or by motions in Parliament.

Everybody should pay taxes.

Taxes should be simple and fair... I'm not for increasing income taxes - if we even have an income tax.

Putting, say, an 85 per cent income tax rate is unlikely to bring in much revenue.

My view is that taxation ought to be based upon ability to pay.

Our first priority is to cut taxes.

There's no such thing as a good tax.

It is easier to start taxes than to stop them. A tax an inch long can easily become a yard long. That has been the history of the income tax. Would not the sales tax be likely to have a similar history [in the U.S.]? ... Canadian newspapers report that an increase in the sales tax threatens to drive the Mackenzie King administration out of office. Canada began with a sales tax of 2%.... Starting this month the tax is 6%. The burden, in other words, has already been increased 200% ... What the U.S. needs is not new taxes, is not more taxes, but fewer and lower taxes.

We will have a massive, massive tax increase under Hillary Clinton's plan.

The idea of abolishing Income Tax is to me highly attractive, both on other grounds and because it tends to public economy.