On the whole it may be observed, that the specific use of a body of unproductive consumers, is to give encouragement to wealth by maintaining such a balance between produce and consumption as will give the greatest exchangeable value to the results of the national industry.

The science of political economy is essentially practical, and applicable to the common business of human life. There are few branches of human knowledge where false views may do more harm, or just views more good.

The labouring poor, to use a vulgar expression, seem always to live from hand to mouth. Their present wants employ their whole whole attention, and they seldom think of the future. Even when they have an opportunity of saving they seldom exercise it, but all that is beyond their present neccessities goes, generally speaking, to the ale house.

The rich, by unfair combinations, contribute frequently to prolong a season of distress among the poor.

The ordeal of virtue is to resist all temptation to evil.

A writer may tell me that he thinks man will ultimately become an ostrich. I cannot properly contradict him.

To prevent the recurrence of misery is, alas! beyond the power of man.