Henry George (1839–97) was an American political economist and journalist. A self-trained economist, he explained in Progress and Poverty how all the world’s evils are attributable to real estate and proposed the land value tax, wherein just the land—not the property or anything else on it—is taxed.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he left school at the age of 13, went to sea, and in 1858 arrived in California, where he became a printer and took part in Democratic Party politics until 1880. He wrote for several newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, and became the owner of the San Francisco Daily Evening Post (1871–75.)
George had failed at several attempts to gain an elective office, but in 1876, he secured a political appointment as a state gas-meter inspector. George was a self-trained economist of the late 19th century. He took an active part in public questions and published Our Land and Land Policy in 1870 and Progress and Poverty (1877–79.) His fundamental remedy for poverty was a ‘single tax’ levied on the value of bare land exclusive of improvements and abolishing all taxes, which fall upon industry and thrift.
Few economists of reputation supported George’s specific remedy. Critics observed that taxes on site values could reduce the incentive to make sites valuable, thereby weakening the tax’s intent. Nevertheless, George’s forceful emphasis on “privilege,” his demand for equality of opportunity, and systematic economic analysis proved a stimulus to orderly reform. His writing was trendy in 19th century America and sparked several reform movements of the Progressive Era.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Henry George
There is danger in reckless change; but greater danger in blind conservatism.
—Henry George
Topics: Change
How vainly shall we endeavor to repress crime by our barbarous punishment of the poorer class of criminals so long as children are reared in the brutalizing influences of poverty, so long as the bite of want drives men to crime.
—Henry George
Topics: Criminals, Crime
The man who gives me employment, which I must have or suffer, that man is my master, let me call him what I will.
—Henry George
Topics: Slavery
The march of invention has clothed mankind with powers of which a century ago the boldest imagination could not have dreamt.
—Henry George
Topics: Invention
He who sees the truth, let him proclaim it, without asking who is for it or who is against it.
—Henry George
Topics: Truth
Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and where ever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power.
—Henry George
Topics: Leadership, Influence
Man is an animal; but he is an animal plus something else. He is a mythic earth-tree, whose roots are in the ground, but whose top-most branches may blossom in the heavens.
—Henry George
Topics: Man
Poorly paid labor is inefficient labor, the world over
—Henry George
Topics: One liners
Unless there be correct thought, there cannot be any action, and when there is correct thought, right action will follow.
—Henry George
Topics: Action
Compare society to a boat. Her progress through the water will not depend upon the exertion of her crew, but upon the exertion devoted to propelling her. This will be lessened by any expenditure of force in fighting among themselves, or in pulling in different directions.
—Henry George
Topics: Society
The fundamental principle of human action … is that men seek to gratify their desires with the least exertion.
—Henry George
Topics: Action
Capital is a result of labor, and is used by labor to assist it in further production. Labor is the active and initial force, and labor is therefore the employer of capital.
—Henry George
Topics: Capitalism, Labor
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