A Quote by Adam Smith

Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.

Adam Smith

Quote Topics

Beggar Benevolence Chiefly Chooses Citizens Depend Fellow His Nobody

Quote Author

Adam Smith
Scottish - Economist
June 5, 1723 - July 17, 1790

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages. Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow citizens.

Adam Smith

They who say that we should love our fellow-citizens but not foreigners, destroy the universal brotherhood of mankind, with which benevolence and justice would perish forever.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

A lot will depend on who [Donald] Trump chooses for key cabinet positions, but even more will depend on his consultations with his key advisor (himself).

David Krieger

Among the liberties of citizens that are guaranteed are ... the right to believe what one chooses, the right to differ from his neighbor, the right to pick and choose the political philosophy he likes best, the right to associate with whomever he chooses, the right to join groups he prefers.

William O. Douglas

Benevolence does not consist in those who are prosperous pitying and helping those who are not. It consists in fellow feeling that puts you upon actually the same level with the fellow who suffers.

Woodrow Wilson

Nobody ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship.

Lucan

It is repugnant to an American to inform upon his fellow citizens.

Sidney Buchman

The man who is just and resolute will not be moved from his settled purpose, either by the misdirected rage of his fellow citizens, or by the threats of an imperious tryant.

Horace

In a conquered country benevolence is not humanitarianism. It is a general political axiom that a conqueror must not inspire a good opinion of his benevolence until he has demonstrated that he can be severe with malefactors.

Napoleon Bonaparte

A friend to everybody is often a friend to nobody, or else in his simplicity he robs his family to help strangers, and becomes brother to a beggar. There is wisdom in generosity, as in everything else.

Charles Spurgeon

He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.

Ludwig von Mises

The man who is tenacious of purpose in a rightful cause is not shaken from his firm resolve by the frenzy of his fellow citizens clamoring for what is wrong, or by the tyrant's threatening countenance.

Horace

If man chooses oblivion, he can go right on leaving his fate to his political leaders. If he chooses Utopia, he must initiate an enormous education program - immediately, if not sooner.

R. Buckminster Fuller

Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it's because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That's the source of everything.