Adam Smith

government property rich poor

“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 (1723-1790)

complain power rid yourself

“Never complain of that of which it is at all times in your power to rid yourself.”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

butcher baker brewer dinner self-interest

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

society flourish happy poor miserable

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which by far the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable. ”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

unreasonable rich contribute public expence proportion

“It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

great property inequality rich poor wealth

“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 (1723-1790)

poverty inequality

“Wherever there is great property, there is great inequality.”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

man animal bargain dog bones

“Man is an animal that makes bargains: no other animal does this - no dog exchanges bones with another.”

― Adam Smith (1723-1790)

conquer enslave nation sword debt

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation: one is by sword, the other is by debt."

—Adam Smith (1723-1790)

impertinence kings ministers expense spendthrift ruin state

"It is the highest impertinence and presumption… in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense... They are themselves always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society. Let them look well after their own expense, and they may safely trust private people with theirs. If their own extravagance does not ruin the state, that of their subjects never will."

—Adam Smith (1723-1790)

maxim prudent master family make buy kingdom

"It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy...What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom."

—Adam Smith (1723-1790)

consumption production producer consumer

"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 (1723-1790)

discipline college university benefit student easemaster

"The discipline of colleges and universities is in general contrived, not for the benefit of the students, but for the interest, or more properly speaking, for the ease of the masters."

—Adam Smith (1723-1790)

university oxford professor pretence teaching

"In the university of Oxford, the greater part of the public professors have, for these many years, given up altogether even the pretence of teaching."

—Adam Smith (1723-1790)