68 quotes
It is doubtless very desirable, that private persons should have a correct knowledge of their personal interests; but it must be infinitely more so, that governments should possess that knowledge.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
There is no security of property, where a despotic authority can possess itself of the property of the subject against his consent. Neither is there such security, where the consent is merely nominal and delusive.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
Whence it is evident that the remedy must be adapted to the particular cause of the mischief; consequently, the cause must be ascertained, before the remedy is devised.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
All travellers agree that protestant are both richer and more populous than catholic countries;and the reason is, because the habits of the former are more conducive to production.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The manner in which things exist and take place, constitutes what is called the nature of things; and a careful observation of the nature of things is the sole foundation of all truth.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
But, is it possible for princes and ministers to be enlightened, when private individuals are not so?
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The ancients, by their system of colonization, made themselves friends all over the known world; the moderns have sought to make subjects, and therefore have made enemies.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
When a tree, a natural product, is felled, is society put into possession of no greater produce than that of the mere labour of the woodman?
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The celebrated Adam Smith was the first to point out the immense increase of production, and the superior perfection of products referable to this division of labour.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
A shop-keeper in good business is quite as well off as a pedlar that travels the country with his wares on his back. Commercial jealousy is, after all, nothing but prejudice: it is a wild fruit, that will drop of itself when it has arrived at maturity.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The day will come, sooner or later, when people will wonder at the necessity of taking all this trouble to expose the folly of a system, so childish and absurd, and yet so often enforced at the point of a bayonet.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The command of a large sum is a dangerous temptation to a national administration. Though accumulated at their expense, the people rarely, if ever profit by it: yet in point of fact, all value, and consequently, all wealth, originates with the people.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
Some writers maintain arithmetic to be only the only sure guide in political economy; for my part, I see so many detestable systems built upon arithmetical statements, that I am rather inclined to regard that science as the instrument of national calamity.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
In times of political confusion, and under an arbitrary government, many will prefer to keep their capital inactive, concealed, and unproductive, either of profit or gratification, rather than run the risk of its display. This latter evil is never felt under a good government.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
Demand and supply are the opposite extremes of the beam, whence depend the scales of dearness and cheapness; the price is the point of equilibrium, where the momentum of the one ceases, and that of the other begins.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
Dominion by land or sea will appear equally destitute of attraction, when it comes to be generally understood, that all its advantages rest with the rulers, and that the subjects at large derive no benefit whatever.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
A much larger value is consumed in lettuces than in pineapples, throughout Europe at large; and the superb shawls of Cachemere are, in France, a very poor object in trade, in comparison with the plain cotton goods of Rouen.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
Wherefore it is impossible to succeed in comparing wealth of different eras or different nations. This, in political economy, like squaring the circle in mathematics, is impracticable, for want of a common mean or measure to go by.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
The occupation of the stock-jobber yields no new or useful product; consequently having no product of his own to give in exchange, he has no revenue to subsist upon, but what he contrives to make out of the unskilfulness or ill-fortune of gamesters like himself.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)
It is a melancholy but an undoubted fact, that, even in the most thriving countries, part of the population annually dies of mere want. Not that all who perish from want absolutely die of hunger; though this calamity is of more frequent occurrence than is generally supposed.
A Treatise On Political Economy (Fourth Edition) (1832)