“The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest [number] of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
Figure timeline
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French statesman who served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death in 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His lasting impact on the organization of the country's politics and markets, known as Colbertism, a doctrine often characterized as a variant of mercantilism, earned him the nickname le Grand Colbert.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · French statesman (1619–1683) · economist · politician · jurist · Clerical Officer · also Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Colbert
Born 29 August 1619 · Died 6 September 1683 · Q188971
11 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
4 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 2 entries
“It is simply, and solely, the abundance of money within a state [which] makes the difference in its grandeur and power.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
- #corroborated
2020· 1 entry
Due to Colbert's part in drafting the Code Noir
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1683· 2 entries
Died 1683-09-06.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
“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.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
1669· 2 entries
Career landmark: Minister for the Maison du Roi (1669–1683).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Secretary of State of the Navy (1669–1683).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1667· 1 entry
Career landmark: seat 24 of the Académie française (1667–1683).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1665· 1 entry
Career landmark: Controller-General of Finances (1665–1683).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1661· 1 entry
Career landmark: Chief Minister of France (1661–1683).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1619· 1 entry
Born 1619-08-29.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth