Adam Smith

"It is in the interest of every man to live as much at his ease as he can."

"The custom of one age is often the law of the next."

"The violation of justice is sometimes so slight, and on the other hand, the convenience of the violation so great, that we are tempted to shut our eyes against it."

"A man would be ridiculous who should appear in public with a long face and a mournful deportment."

"The consciousness of ill-desert is the only sentiment which can render misery unsupportable."

"The produce of labour constitutes the natural recompence or wages of labour."

"The division of labour, so far as it can be introduced, occasions, in every art, a proportionable increase of the productive powers of labour."

"In easy and safe circumstances the custom of application can scarcely ever be acquired."

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

"It is to be observed that the department of morals into which we naturally divide it, are two."

"The misery of the lower ranks of people in most countries is the principal consequence of the improper conduct of government and laws."

"Humanity is the virtue of a sympathetic nature."

"The more extensive and more effectual the public institutions are, the greater will be the amount of capital which must be accumulated for the purpose of maintaining them."

"A Scotsman must be a very sturdy moralist who does not love Scotland better than truth."

"The original cause of the civil institutions is the need of protection."

"The establishment of perfect justice extinguishes resentment entirely."

"When the public deliberates concerning any regulation of commerce or police, the advantage of the consumer ought to be regarded as paramount to that of the producer."

"The natural principles which lead and direct philosophical enquiries, are the love of virtue, and the love of mankind."

"To suppose that the great body of the yeomanry or country gentlemen could ever be converted into one uniform body is altogether impossible."

"The disposition to admire, and almost to worship, the rich and powerful is the great and universal cause of the corruption of our moral sentiments."

"The greatest part of the advantages and disadvantages to which people are exposed does not depend upon the choice of the individual."

"An enormous fortune has been accumulated in a very short time through the extension of credit."

"The produce of a man's own labour is his natural inheritance."

"The impartial spectator is the great arbiter of conduct."

"To be deeply engaged in a work, to know what you're doing, to be committed to the truth."

"The best security of the sovereign against rebellion is the esteem and affection of the people."

"The disposition to admire the rich and powerful is the natural cause of the inequality of fortunes."

"As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the proprietors like all other men love to reap where they never sowed."

"The real price of everything that is acquired by labour is the labour itself."

"All programs of virtue contemplate the perfection and happiness of human nature."