Who said “The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.”?

Disputed

It's credited to John Maynard Keynes, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable source from John Maynard Keynes's lifetime: First credited to Keynes in 1970, decades after his death.

Evidence: Quote Investigator · Wikiquote · How we check

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“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.”
— John Maynard Keynes
DisputedNo reliable source from John Maynard Keynes's lifetime: First credited to Keynes in 1970, decades after his death. · evidenceTaxes and Taxation

Cite this quote

APA

“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.” [Quotation attributed to John Maynard Keynes]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39218-the-avoidance-of-taxes-is-the-only-intellectual/

MLA

“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.” Attributed to John Maynard Keynes. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39218-the-avoidance-of-taxes-is-the-only-intellectual/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.” Attributed to John Maynard Keynes. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39218-the-avoidance-of-taxes-is-the-only-intellectual/.

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