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

All jobs are created in direct proportion to the amount of capital employed.

Among civilized and thriving nations, on the contrary, though a great number of people do no labor at all, many of whom consume the produce of ten times, frequently of a hundred times more labour than the greater part of those who work; yet the produce of the whole labour of the society is so great, that all are often abundantly supplied, and a workman, even of the lowest and poorest order, if he is frugal and industrious, may enjoy a greater share of the necessaries and conveniencies of life than it is possible for any savage to acquire.

The man scarce lives who is not more credulous than he ought to be... The natural disposition is always to believe. It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough.

The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is that of his customers. It is the fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and corrects his negligence.

In public, as well as in private expences, great wealth may, perhaps, frequently be admitted as an apology for great folly.

Secrets in manufactures are capable of being longer kept than secrets in trade.