Skip to content

Neither machines, nor the commodities made by them, rise in real value, but all commodities made by machines fall, and fall in proportion to their durability.

— David Ricardo The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

Another quote →

More quotes by David Ricardo

Utility then is not the measure of exchangeable value, although it is absolutely essential to it.

The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

Every transaction in commerce is an independent transaction.

The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

Possessing utility, commodities derive their exchangeable value from two sources: from their scarcity, and from the quantity of labour required to obtain them.

The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

There can be no greater error then in supposing that capital is increased by non-consumption.

The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

If a tax on malt would raise the price of beer, a tax on bread must raise the price of bread.

The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1821)

All David Ricardo quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: David Ricardo (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.