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 necessities, but...
From An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book IV, Chap. 2 by Adam Smith. 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...
“The uniform, constant and uninterrupted effort of every man to better his condition … 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...
“No human wisdom or knowledge could ever be sufficient [for] the duty of superintending the industry of private people..." “[Governments are] ...without exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society.” “The agents of [government] regard the wealth of their master...