30 Adam Smith Quotes On Life, Success, Government & Books

30 Adam Smith Quotes On Life, Success, Government & Books

Last updated on January 3rd, 2024 at 10:52 am

Adam Smith” by “Futurilla“, licensed under CC0 1.0

Adam Smith (1723-1790) was a Scottish philosopher & economist, famously known as the “Father of Modern Economics”. His efforts for growing the world’s economy and making people aware of the same are must mention. And no doubt, without his efforts, the world would be a poorer place.

Apart from his contribution to the world’s economy, Adam Smith had written some amazing stuff. Adam is also known for his book, ‘The Wealth of Nations.’ He was the person to point out errors in political economy, and everything that he noticed and corrected is followed till now. Even all quotes he wrote are still considered relevant for pointing to society’s economic needs, moral principles for moving ahead and helping you learn how to live a better and happier life.

We have compiled Adam Smith quotes to make you aware of his views towards life and encourage motivational living.

Adam Smith Quotes on Books

Adam Smith has been an author of many books because of his interest in philosophy and love for writing. Explore some Adam Smith quotes we picked up from his books.

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

“There is no art which government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

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

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

“Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”

Adam Smith
Source: Adam Smith: The Theory of Moral Sentiments

“On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity.”

Adam Smith
Source: Powers of Mind
Adam Smith Quotes on Books
“We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.”
Source: The Essential Adam Smith

Adam Smith Quotes about Life

Adam Smith quotes about life will help you understand how he used to look at his life and bring some positive changes in your way of living.

“Happiness never lays its finger on its pulse.”

Adam Smith

“How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.”

Adam Smith

“Man is an animal that makes bargains: no other animal does this – no dog exchanges bones with another.”

Adam Smith

“Never complain of that of which it is at all times in your power to rid yourself.”

Adam Smith

“What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?”

Adam Smith
Adam Smith Quotes about Life:
“Every man lives by exchanging.”

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

“Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.”

Adam Smith

“Individual ambition serves the common good.”

Adam Smith

“A man must always live by his work, and his wages must at least be sufficient to maintain him. They must even upon most occasions be somewhat more; otherwise it would be impossible for him to bring up a family, and the race of such workmen could not last beyond the first generation.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith Quotes about Life:
“In the common degree of the moral, there is no virtue. Virtue is excellence.”

“Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument of ambition.”

Adam Smith

Adam Smith Quotes on Success

Adam Smith was a great economist and philosopher, and you can learn a lot from him. If you want to become successful but don’t have clarity in life, read Adam Smith quotes on success.

“All money is a matter of belief.” 

Adam Smith

“A nation is not made wealthy by the childish accumulation of shiny metals, but it enriched by the economic prosperity of its people.”

Adam Smith

“The first thing you have to know is yourself. A man who knows himself can step outside himself and watch his own reactions like an observer.”

Adam Smith

“Every man is rich or poor according to the degree in which he can afford to enjoy the necessaries, conveniences, and amusements of human life.”

Adam Smith
Adam Smith Quotes on Success
“Have lots of experiments, but make sure they’re strategically focused.”

Adam Smith Quotes About Government

Adam Smith has worked closely with government in his lifespan, and therefore he had a lot to speak about it. Here are some Adam Smith quotes about government!

“Though the profusion of Government must undoubtedly have retarded the natural progress of England to wealth and improvement, it has not been able to stop it.”

Adam Smith
Source: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

“The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.”

Adam Smith

“Every tax, however, is to the person who pays it a badge, not of slavery but of liberty. It denotes that he is a subject to government, indeed, but that, as he has some property, he cannot himself be the property of a master.”

Adam Smith

“Fear is in almost all cases a wretched instrument of government, and ought in particular never to be employed against any order of men who have the smallest pretensions to independency.”

Adam Smith

“Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.”

Adam Smith
Adam Smith Quotes About Government
“Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.”

Adam Smith was a great man, and he did a lot for our economy. He even added some gems to the overall world’s collection of quotes. The way he pointed out deep things makes him different from others. We hope you liked these Adam Smith Quotes. You can also check out these 32 Brilliant Andrew Carnegie Quotes On Wealth & Success!

Nitesh Kuchhal, an IIM Calcutta graduate, is more than an educator—he's a mentor. With a passion for leadership and entrepreneurship, and travel. He has explored over 20 countries. Beyond teaching, he dives into psychology and discusses social issues. Though he is not a history expert, he enjoys learning about it through books, adding a historical touch to his many interests.

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