Authors - Adam Smith
Brief Biography
Adam Smith (baptised 16 June 1723 - 17 July 1790) was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Principles Which Lead and Direct Philosophical Enquiries, Illustrated by the History of Astronomy, prior to 1758, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, 1759, and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776. Smith is widely cited as the father of modern economics and capitalism and is still among the most influential thinkers in the field of economics today. In 2009, Smith was named among the 'Greatest Scots' of all time, in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV. - Wikipedia
Quotes by Adam SmithBrowse all of these
Quote 1116by Anonymous on 10/01/2011
A gardener who cultivates his own garden with his own hands, united in his own person the three different characters, of landlord, farmer, and labourer. His produce, therefore, should pay him the rent of the first, the profit of the second, and the wages of the third.
Quote 1641by Anonymous on 15/01/2011
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 neccessities but of their advantages.
Quote 2927by Anonymous on 03/02/2011
If a nation could not prosper without the enjoyment of perfect liberty and perfect justice, there is not in the world a nation which could ever have prospered.
Quote 3096by Anonymous on 03/02/2011
Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice: all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things.
Quote 3708by Anonymous on 09/02/2011
The uniform, constant and uninterrupted effort of every man to better his condition, the principle from which public and national, as well as private opulence is originally derived, is frequently powerful enough to maintain the natural progress of things toward improvement, in spite both of the extravagance of government, and of the greatest errors of administration. Like the unknown principle of animal life, it frequently restores health and vigour to the constitution, in spite, not only of the disease, but of the absurd prescriptions of the doctor.
Quote 3742by Anonymous on 09/02/2011
The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himeslf with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it.
Quote 3859by Anonymous on 12/02/2011
Man has almost constant occasion for the help of his brethren, and it is in vain for him to expect it from their benevolence only.
Quote 3998by Anonymous on 12/02/2011
How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.
Quote 4262by Anonymous on 18/02/2011
That the innocent, though they may have some connexion or dependency upon the guilty (which, perhaps, they themselves cannot help), should not, upon that account, suffer or be punished for the guilty, is one of the plainest and most obvious rules of justice.
Quote 4414by Anonymous on 21/02/2011
The difference between the most dissimilar characters, between a philosopher and a common street porter, for example, seems to arise not so much from nature, as from habit, custom, and education.
Quote 4552by Anonymous on 23/02/2011
Man was made for action, and to promote by the exertion of his faculties such changes in the external circumstances both of himself and others, as may seem most favourable to the happiness of all.
Quote 4777by Anonymous on 27/02/2011
Such is the delicacy of man alone, that no object is produced to his liking. He finds that in everything there is need for improvement. The whole industry of human life is employed not in procuring the supply of our three humble necessities, food, clothes and lodging, but in procuring the conveniences of it according to the nicety and delicacy of our tastes.
Quote 4867by Anonymous on 02/03/2011
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.
Quote 4876by Anonymous on 03/03/2011
Every individual...generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, 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 no part of his intention.
Quote 8905by Anonymous on 05/06/2012
The propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another is common to all men, and to be found in no other race of animals.
Quote 9039by Anonymous on 12/06/2012
Americans want action for their money. They are fascinated by its self-reproducing qualities if it's put to work.
Quote 9557by Anonymous on 02/08/2012
No complaint... is more common than that of a scarcity of money.
Quote 10051by Anonymous on 09/09/2012
Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.
Quote 12101by Anonymous on 02/03/2013
No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.
Quote 12795by Anonymous on 24/05/2013
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 interest.
Quote 13599by Anonymous on 08/08/2013
Happiness never lays its finger on its pulse.
