Status Updates From Wealth of Nations

That wealth consists in money, or in gold and silver, is a popular notion which naturally arises from the double function of money, as the instrument of commerce, and as the measure of value.....when we have money we can more readily obtain whatever else we have occasion for, than by means of any other commodity. The great affair, we always find, is to get money.

It is by this service chiefly that he contributes indirectly to support the productive labour of the society, and to increase the value of its annual produce....this is all the productive labour which it mmediately puts into motion, and all the value which it immediately adds to the annual produce.

Food is in this manner, not only the original source of rent, but every other part of the produce of land which afterwards affords rent, derives that part of its value from the improvement of the powers of labour in producing food by means of the improvement and cultivation of land.

The wear and tear of a slave, it has been said, is at the expense of his master; but that of a free servant is at his own expense. The wear and tear of the latter, however, is, in reality, as much at the expense of his master as that of the former.

Labour, therefore, is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities. The real price of everything, what every thing really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.

Labour, therefore, is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities. The real price of everything, what every thing really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.

Labour, therefore, is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities. The real price of everything, what every thing really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.