Self-interest

Explore 3 quotes about Self-interest

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

The Wealth of Nations

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Topic

Self-interest Free market Capitalism

Author

Adam Smith

Source

The Wealth of Nations

Genre

Economic literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Vol. 1, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1776, bk. 1, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, edited by Edwin Cannan. The Modern Library, bk. 1, ch. 2.

Every individual necessarily labours to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it... he intends only his own security... and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

Buy The Wealth of Nations Books 4-5 at Amazon Buy The Wealth of Nations Books 4-5 at Amazon
Read The Wealth of Nations at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Invisible hand Self-interest Unintended consequences

Author

Adam Smith

Source

The Wealth of Nations

Genre

Economic literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Vol. 2, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell 1776, bk. 4, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, edited by Edwin Cannan. The Modern Library, 2000, bk. 4, ch. 2.

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.

Upton Sinclair

More information about this quote

Topic

Self-interest Selfishness Incentives

Author

Upton Sinclair

Source

I, Candidate for Governor: And How I Got Licked

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

English

Time

1935 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sinclair, Upton. I, Candidate for Governor: And How I Got Licked. Farrar & Rinehart, 1935.