David Ricardo

Quotes

The farmer and manufacturer can no more live without profit than the labourer without wages.
p. 73
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
I have already expressed my opinion on this subject in treating of rent, and have now only further to add, that rent is a creation of value, as I understand that word, but not a creation of wealth.
p. 273
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
Whether a bank lent one million, ten million, or a hundred millions, they would not permanently alter the market rate of interest; they would alter only the value of the money they issued.
p. 246
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
It has therefore been justly observed that however honestly the coin of a country may conform to its standard, money made of gold and silver is still liable to fluctuations in value, not only to accidental, and temporary, but to permanent and natural variations, in the same manner as other commodities.
p. 47
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
If a tax on malt would raise the price of beer, a tax on bread must raise the price of bread.
p. 168
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
But it is clear that the price of labour has no necessary connection with the price of food, since it depends entirely on the supply of labourers compared with the demand.
p. 141
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
Possessing utility, commodities derive their exchangeable value from two sources: from their scarcity, and from the quantity of labour required to obtain them.
p. 5
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
But a tax on luxuries would no other effect than to raise their price. It would fall wholly on the consumer, and could neither increase wages nor lower profits.
p. 161
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
The wheat bought by a farmer to sow is comparatively a fixed capital to the wheat purchased by a baker to make into loaves.
p. 19
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
Rent is that portion of the produce of the earth which is paid to the landlord for the use of the original and indestructible powers of the soil.
p. 33
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
Utility then is not the measure of exchangeable value, although it is absolutely essential to it.
p. 5
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation

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