Quotations and Literature Forum

hi, everybody:
i have a question. it's about this quotation:
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. i can't fully understand it. i know it's from George Bernard Shaw, but what i do not know is why and when he said it. is it about taxation? is there anyone can give me a hand? many thx!
BTW, i am from china and very happy to be here. hope we can be friends!

Well, I'm afraid unless somebody else knows..... your gonna have to start digging:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Pau ... rt=30&sa=N

thx a lot! actually, i dug and dug and dug, since i have no original text to figure out the hidden meaning, but found nothing is valuable:(
one more question. are peter and paul equal in their life or position? i mean, are they indicated as our common people?