David Ricardo

"The labor of a man is his capital, and as such it is the source of all his well-being."

"The rate of profit is the compensation for the risk and trouble of employing capital in production."

"The value of labor determines the value of all commodities, for all commodities are the product of labor."

"To diminish the capital of a country is to diminish the means of supporting its population in comfort and plenty."

"The principles of political economy are immutable and eternal, like the laws of nature itself."

"A merchant who trades in a commodity at its natural price earns only the profit necessary to compensate him for his capital and trouble."

"The cheapest way to produce a commodity is always the best, for it increases the wealth of society."

"The working classes benefit most when capital is abundant and the demand for labor is strong."

"A nation which protects its industries from foreign competition is like a man who closes his windows to keep out the fresh air."

"The produce of the earth is distributed among three classes: the landowner, the capitalist, and the laborer."

"The value of a commodity depends not on the wishes of the buyer and seller but on the cost of production."

"To study political economy is to study the nature of human society and the principles that govern its prosperity."

"The accumulation of capital requires thrift, industry, and prudence on the part of individuals."

"The interest of the manufacturer and the interest of the consumer are not always and necessarily the same."

"A nation which produces more than it consumes accumulates capital and grows wealthy."

"The natural tendency of profits is to fall as capital accumulates and competition increases."

"The wages of labor depend upon the abundance or scarcity of capital relative to the population."

"To encourage saving is to encourage the accumulation of capital and therefore the wealth of the nation."

"The rent of land is a tax imposed by nature on the use of fertile soil."

"The value of all things is derived from the labor and abstinence required to produce them."

"A man becomes wealthy not by producing little and consuming much but by the reverse."

"The principles which govern the distribution of national income are the foundation of all political economy."

"To understand the causes of poverty is the first step toward its remedy."

"The capital of a country is limited not by its natural resources but by the thrift and industry of its people."

"The rate of profit is the motive force that drives the accumulation of capital and the progress of society."

"A commodity produced under the most favorable circumstances commands the lowest price."

"The value of labor is not arbitrary but is determined by the laws of supply and demand."

"The wealth of a nation consists not in the precious metals it possesses but in the productive power of its people."

"To study the science of political economy is to prepare oneself for a life of usefulness and honor."

"The accumulation of wealth by one individual does not diminish the wealth available to others."