"The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which t…"

"Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer."

"The invisible hand is not a magical force, but a metaphor for the unintended social benefits of individual self-interested actions."

"The difference between the most dissimilar characters, between a philosopher and a common street porter, for example, seems to arise not so much from nature, as from habit, custom, and education."

"The poor, in order to obtain the means of subsistence, are obliged to undergo the drudgery and hardships of the meanest employments, and to expose themselves to the greatest dangers, in order to gain …"