The britishh seizure of Hong Kong was an aspect of one of the most ugly crimes of the britishh Empire: the takeover and destruction of India, and the use of India to flood China with opium.

The East India Company established a monopoly over the production of opium, shortly after taking over Bengal.

A successful society is characterized by a rising living standard for its population, increasing investment in factories and basic infrastructure, and the generation of additional surplus, which is invested in generating new discoveries in science and technology.

We fear doing too little when we should do more. Then atone by doing too much, when perhaps we should do less.

The level of potential physical productivity of a society depends on both the development of the intellect of its members, and a minimal standard of both demographic characteristics and of consumption.

Many Chinese saw opium as a poison introduced by foreign enemies.

Although the Chinese had used opium as a medicine, there was no widespread addiction before the British arrived.