With the greater part of rich people, the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches.

The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.

Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.

Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice: all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things.

Avarice and injustice are always shortsighted, and they did not foresee how much this regulation must obstruct improvement, and thereby hurt in the long-run the real interest of the landlord.

Masters are always and everywhere in a sort of tacit, but constant and uniform combination, not to raise the wages of labor.

What can be added to the happiness of the man who is in health, who is out of debt, and has a clear conscience?