But what all the violence of the feudal institutions could never have effected, the silent and insensible operation of foreign commerce and manufactures gradually brought about. Adam Smith More Quotes by Adam Smith More Quotes From Adam Smith Every individual is continually exerting himself to find out the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command. It is his own advantage, indeed, and not that of the society which he has in view. But the study of his own advantage naturally, or rather necessarily, leads him to prefer that employment which is most advantageous to society... He intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was not part of his intention Adam Smith invisible-hand views hands Goods can serve many other purposes besides purchasing money, but money can serve no other purpose besides purchasing goods. Adam Smith purchasing economics purpose Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience. Adam Smith excess vices fear Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens. Adam Smith citizens liberty government Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many. The affluence of the rich excites the indignation of the poor, who are often both driven by want, and prompted by envy, to invade his possessions. Adam Smith envy want men With the greater part of rich people, the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches. Adam Smith success life people Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer. The maxim is so perfectly self-evident that it would be absurd to attempt to prove it. But in the mercantile system the interest of the consumer is almost constantly sacrificed to that of the producer; and it seems to consider production, and not consumption, as the ultimate end and object of all industry and commerce. Adam Smith purpose self may On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity. Adam Smith valleys progress cities Defense is superior to opulence. Adam Smith opulence economy defense A merchant, it has been said very properly, is not necessarily the citizen of any particular country. Adam Smith economics citizens country I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. Adam Smith economic-order invisible-hand government Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all. Adam Smith libertarian government reality Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition. Adam Smith flames enthusiasm science It is not the actual greatness of national wealth, but its continual increase, which occasions a rise in the wages of labour. It is not, accordingly, in the richest countries, but in the most thriving, or in those which are growing rich the fastest, that the wages of labour are highest. England is certainly, in the present times, a much richer country than any part of North America. The wages of labour, however, are much higher in North America than in any part of England. Adam Smith greatness country america Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct. Adam Smith politics political sometimes Every man is rich or poor according to the degree in which he can afford to enjoy the necessaries, conveniences, and amusements of human life. Adam Smith rich-or-poor money men Man, an animal that makes bargains. Adam Smith agreement animal men To feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature. Adam Smith selfishness perfection exercise What can be added to the happiness of the man who is in health, who is out of debt, and has a clear conscience? Adam Smith motivational positive life We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it. Adam Smith multitudes no-respect
