This is one of those cases in which the imagination is baffled by the facts.

The importation of gold and silver is not the principal, much less the sole benefit which a nation derives from its foreign trade.

To feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature.

Goods can serve many other purposes besides purchasing money, but money can serve no other purpose besides purchasing goods.

Upstart greatness is everywhere less respected than ancient greatness.

A very poor man may be said in some sense to have a demand for a coach and six; he might like to have it; but his demand is not an effectual demand, as the commodity can never be brought to market in order to satisfy it.

I am always willing to run some hazard of being tedious, in order to be sure that I am perspicuous; and, after taking the utmost pains that I can to be perspicuous, some obscurity may still appear to remain upon a subject, in its own nature extremely abstracted.