Adam Smith Wealth of Nations Quotes, a Scottish economist and philosopher, is celebrated as the father of modern economics. His seminal work, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), laid the groundwork for classical economics, introducing concepts like the “invisible hand,” division of labor, and free market principles. A cornerstone of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith’s insights on trade, production, and individual self-interest remain influential.
These 15 quotes—sourced exclusively from Wealth of Nations—highlight his key economic ideas, reflecting his profound understanding of markets, labor, and societal prosperity.
15 Adam Smith Wealth of Nations Quotes
- “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.” (Book I, Chapter II)
- “Every individual… 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.” (Book IV, Chapter II)
- “The division of labour… so far as it can be introduced, occasions, in every art, a proportionable increase of the productive powers of labour.” (Book I, Chapter I)
- “No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.” (Book I, Chapter VIII)
- “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.” (Book I, Chapter II)
- “Labour was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things.” (Book I, Chapter V)
- “All money is a matter of belief.” (Book IV, Chapter V)
- “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.” (Book IV, Chapter VIII)
- “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.” (Book I, Chapter X)
- “The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition… is so powerful, that it is alone, and without any assistance, capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity.” (Book IV, Chapter V)
- “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.” (Book I, Chapter V)
- “The real price of everything… is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.” (Book I, Chapter V)
- “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public.” (Book I, Chapter X)
- “The establishment of any new manufacture, of any new branch of commerce… is always a speculation, from which the projector promises himself extraordinary profits.” (Book IV, Chapter II)
- “Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.” (Book V, Chapter I, Part III)
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations quotes are a timeless blend of economic brilliance and practical wisdom, inspiring economists and policymakers to explore the dynamics of markets and individual ambition. Which one resonates with your view of wealth or trade? Share it below and keep Smith’s economic legacy thriving!
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