After decades I finally found a source to get the exact quote that was burned into my memory. This comes from Dragon Magazine #95 back in 1985. Its an article that is a pretend interview between an editor of the magazine and a fantasy realm Chancellor of the Exchequer (tax guy):

Dragon Magazine: Indeed, Your Excellency. You have been more than kind to grant me the time you have. But please allow me to pose one last question. The man who invented the system of taxation in my land once described it as discovering the way to pluck the most feathers from the goose with the least amount of squawk.” Would you say that the same applies to your system of taxation?

Algoras Stanheort: A wise man, he who said that, but I would amend it in only one particular. As applied to our system of producing revenue, let me say that we have discovered the value of a minimum of deafness in plucking the goose. More feathers can be collected if you mind less the squawking.