American economist and political philosopher Thomas Sowell wrote in a syndicated newspaper column in May 1994:
 
“I have never understood why it is “greed” to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take someone else’s money.”
 
The quote also appeared in his book, Barbarians inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays (1999). Sowell’s quotation has been frequently cited by conservative authors.
   
A similar quote is, “‘Need’ now means wanting someone else’s money. ‘Greed’ means wanting to keep your own. ‘Compassion’ is when a politician arranges the transfer.”
     
 
Wikipedia: Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell (/soʊl/; born June 30, 1930) is an American economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author, whose books include Basic Economics.
 
He is currently Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
   
Wikiquote: Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell (born June 30, 1930) is an American economist and political commentator.
(...)
Barbarians inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays (1999)
. When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.
. I have never understood why it is “greed” to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.
 
Google News Archive
13 May 1994, Tuscaloosa (AL) News, Thomas Sowell column, pg. 6A, col. 4:
I have never understood why it is “greed” to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take someone else’s money.
 
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U.S. Representative John Fleming
August 8, 2012 ·
“I have never understood why it is “greed” to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.”
― Thomas Sowell, Barbarians inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays
 
The Original Republican
I Have Never Understood Why It Is Greed
Posted by Mark Ross | August 11, 2012
“I have never understood why it is greed to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.”
- Thomas Sowell
 
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Deadlock Victim ✡
‏@DeadlockVictim
Democrats on avarice: Wanting to keep your own money is greed, but wanting to take someone else’s money isn’t. #UniteBlue #GOPGovsGottaGo
8:40 PM - 23 Feb 2014
 
City-Data.com
petch751 
03-22-2014, 10:54 PM
Why isn’t it greed to want to take someone else’s money?
Credited: Philo_Beddoe a very good question from Thomas Sowell.
“I have never understood why it is “greed” to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.”
—- Thomas Sowell