By nature a philosopher is not in genius and disposition half so different from a street porter, as a mastiff is from a greyhound

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.

The rate of profit... is naturally low in rich and high in poor countries, and it is always highest in the countries which are going fastest to ruin.

It seldom happens, however, that a great proprietor is a great improver.

All registers which, it is acknowledged, ought to be kept secret, ought certainly never to exist.

This great increase of the quantity of work which, in consequence of the division of labour, the same number of people are capable of performing, is owing to three different circumstances; first, to the increase of dexterity in every particular workman; secondly, to the saving of the time which is commonly lost in passing from one species of work to another; and lastly, to the invention of a great number of machines which facilitate and abridge labour, and enable one man to do the work of many.

The problem with fiat money is that it rewards the minority that can handle money, but fools the generation that has worked and saved money.