"We hear of the wealth of nations, of the powers of production, of the demand and supply of markets, and we forget that these words mean no more, if they mean any thing, then the happiness, and the labor, and the necessities of men"
- Francis Wright
About this Quote
This quote by Francis Wright is a tip that the financial terms and ideas we utilize to describe the world are ultimately rooted in the lives of genuine people. The wealth of nations, the powers of production, and the demand and supply of markets are all abstract ideas, however they are ultimately rooted in the happiness, labor, and necessities of people. Wright is advising us that these financial terms are not just numbers and figures, but they are linked to the lives of genuine people. The financial decisions we make have genuine effects for individuals's lives, and we need to not forget that. We need to remember that the financial terms we utilize are eventually rooted in the lives of real people, and that our decisions have real effects for them.
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"