Adam Smith Quotes
105 quotes in this collection
"Happiness never lays its finger on its pulse. An insight drawn from the invisible hand."
-- Adam Smith"We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it. A fundamental law of wealth and nations."
-- Adam Smith"With the greater part of rich people, the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches. Such is the nature of a growing economy."
-- Adam Smith"In regards to the price of commodities, the rise of wages operates as simple interest does, the rise of profit operates like compound interest. Words that still shape our understanding of trade."
-- Adam Smith"The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is that of his customers. It is the fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and corrects his negligence. A quiet truth about human nature."
-- Adam Smith"Avarice over-reaches itself, or perhaps engenders some new vice. This simple truth drives human enterprise."
-- Adam Smith"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. A profound reflection on morality and society."
-- Adam Smith"Defense is of much more importance than opulence. An observation that echoes through modern markets."
-- Adam Smith"The disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition is the great and most universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments. A rational perspective on human ambition."
-- Adam Smith"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. An insight drawn from the invisible hand."
-- Adam Smith"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. A fundamental law of wealth and nations."
-- Adam Smith"What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience? A quiet truth about human nature."
-- Adam Smith"Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way. Such is the nature of a growing economy."
-- Adam Smith"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. A profound reflection on morality and society."
-- Adam Smith"Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man. Words that still shape our understanding of trade."
-- Adam Smith"To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature. An observation that echoes through modern markets."
-- Adam Smith"Humanity is the virtue of a woman, generosity of a man. This simple truth drives human enterprise."
-- Adam Smith"Nobody but a beggar chuses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens. A rational perspective on human ambition."
-- Adam Smith"Every individual is continually exerting himself to find out the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command. An insight drawn from the invisible hand."
-- Adam Smith"Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor. This remains a cornerstone of economic thought."
-- Adam Smith"Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience. Such is the nature of a growing economy."
-- Adam Smith"Adventure upon all the tickets in the lottery, and you lose for certain; and the greater the number of your tickets the nearer you approach to this certainty. A fundamental law of wealth and nations."
-- Adam SmithAbout this author
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked
Adam Smith was a Scottish economist. Pioneer of modern economics. Their insights on success, discipline and long-term thinking are frequently shared by entrepreneurs and professionals.
One of Adam Smith's most widely shared quotes is: "All money is a matter of belief. A profound reflection on morality and society.".
On capitalism, Adam Smith said: "The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations. Such is the nature of a growing economy.".
On economics, Adam Smith said: "Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience. Such is the nature of a growing economy.".
Adam Smith's quotes endure because they turn ideas about Capitalism, Economics, Inequality, Morality into clear, memorable language that is easy to relate to and share.
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