“The problem with fiat money is that it rewards the minority that can handle money, but fools the generation that has worked and saved money.”

The world neither ever saw, nor ever will see, a perfectly fair lottery.

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

I have no faith in political arithmetic.

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

The real and effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman is that of his customers. It is the fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and corrects his negligence.

No complaint is more common than that of a scarcity of money.

Men, like animals, naturally multiply in proportion to the means of their subsistence.

Labour was the first price, the original purchase – money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labour, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased.

Justice, however, never was in reality administered gratis in any country. Lawyers and attornies, at least, must always be paid by the parties; and, if they were not, they would perform their duty still worse than they actually perform it.

Mercantile jealousy is excited, and both inflames, and is itself inflamed, by the violence of national animosity.

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.

It is the natural effect of improvement, however, to diminish gradually the real price of almost all manufactures.

Man naturally desires, not only to be loved, but to be lovely; or to be that thing which is the natural and proper object of love.

The rate of profit is naturally low in rich and high in poor countries, and it is always highest in the countries which are going fastest to ruin.

What is prudence in the conduct of every private family can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom.

Nothing but the most exemplary morals can give dignity to a man of small fortune.

Fools multiply when wise men are silent.

If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with a fool.

I’ve realized that somebody who’s tired and needs a rest, and goes on working all the same is a fool.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

Only fools use their mouth to speak. A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.