As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce.
—Adam Smith
Topics: Property
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.
—Adam Smith
Topics: Business
The real price of everything is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.
—Adam Smith
Topics: Wealth
What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?
—Adam Smith
Topics: Happiness
Whatever a person saves from his revenue he adds to his capital, and either employs it himself in maintaining an additional number of productive hands, or enables some person to do so … for a share of profits. As the capital of an individual can be increased only by what he saves … so the capital of a society can be increased only in the same manner.
—Adam Smith
Topics: Wealth
As soon as government management begins it upsets the natural equilibrium of industrial relations, and each interference only requires further bureaucratic control until the end is the tyranny of the totalitarian state.
—Adam Smith
Topics: Government
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Thomas Reid Scottish Philosopher
- Hugh Blair Scottish Minister, Scholar
- David Hume Scottish Philosopher, Historian
- David Livingstone Scottish Missionary, Explorer
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir Scottish Novelist
- Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey Scottish Judge, Critic
- Walter Scott Scottish Novelist
- George Matheson Scottish Theologian
- Thomas Carlyle Scottish Historian, Essayist
- R. D. Laing British Psychiatrist
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