Jean-Baptiste Colbert Quotes

French statesman (1619–1683)

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Jean-Baptiste Colbert (29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683) was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy.

Bio from: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alternative Names: Not to be confused with Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy (1665-1746), Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Seignelay (1651-1690) or Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Beaulieu (1905-1995)

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The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to procure the largest quantity of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.

What should be done to help you? Let us be!

Que faut-il faire pour vous aider?
Laissez-nous faire!

It is simply, and solely, the abundance of money within a state [which] makes the difference in its grandeur and power.