The statesman， who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals， would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention but assume an authority which could safely be trusted， not only to no single person， but to no council or senate whatever， and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it.
The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition， when suffered to exert itself with freedom and security， is so powerful a principle that it is alone， and without any assistance， not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often encumbers its operations.
All money is a matter of belief.
Man is an animal that makes bargains: no other animal does this no dog exchanges bones with another.
The property which every man has in his own labor， as it is the original foundation of all other property， so it is the most sacred and inviolable.
The division of labor is limited by the extent of the market.
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.
To feel much for others and little for ourselves； to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections， constitute the perfection of human nature.
The first duty of the sovereign， that of protecting the society from the violence and invasion of other independent societies， can be performed only by means of a military force.
Virtue is more to be feared than vice， because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.
Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.
To feel much for others and little for ourselves； to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections， constitute the perfection of human nature.
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.
It is not the benevolence of the employer that determines the wages of labor， but the competition among employers.
No society can surely be flourishing and happy， of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.
The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is that of his customers.
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.
要将一个国家从最低级的野蛮状态带到最高度的富裕，所需的几乎只有和平、低税收和较为合理的司法管理。
同行很少聚在一起，即使是为了娱乐，谈话最终都会以反对公众的阴谋或提高价格的某种策划而结束。
劳动分工在尽可能程度上引入，在每一门艺术中都会导致劳动生产力的相应增加。