An appropriate quote for how the economy should be managed

MoneyWeek every week publishes a series of quotes. In this week’s issue one of these particularly leapt out at me. In my opinion it really sums up how the UK government (or for that manner any government) should manage the economy and highlights how far away from this philosophy we are today.

The quote is:

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

The surprising thing is that this was said by Marcus Tullius Cicero in 55BC. Why won’t governments learn.

As always DYOR.