The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquillity, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality... are felt.
Baron de MontesquieuAs soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.
Baron de Montesquieu