Quote

The farmer and manufacturer can no more live without profit than the labourer without wages.

David Ricardo

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

David Ricardo
Age: 50 †
Born: 1772
Born: April 19
Died: 1823
Died: January 1
Economist
Philosopher
Politician
Stockbroker
London
England
Without
Makers
Farmers
Economics
Labourer
Profit
Labourers
Workers
Manufacturer
Company
Farmer
Business
Farming
Live
Wages

More quotes by David Ricardo

Image
Utility then is not the measure of exchangeable value, although it is absolutely essential to it.
David Ricardo
Image
A rise of wages from this cause will, indeed, be invariably accompanied by a rise in the price of commodities but in such cases, it will be found that labour and all commodities have not varied in regard to each other, and that the variation has been confined to money.
David Ricardo
Image
By far the greatest part of those goods which are the objects of desire, are procured by labour and they may be multiplied, not in one country alone, but in many, almost without any assignable limit, if we are disposed to bestow the labour necessary to obtain them.
David Ricardo
Image
Nothing contributes so much to the prosperity and happiness of a country as high profits.
David Ricardo
Image
It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always in mind the immediate and temporary effects of particular changes, whereas I put these effects quite aside, and fix my whole attention on the long-term effects that will result from them.
David Ricardo
Image
To alter the money value of commodities, by altering the value of money, and yet to raise the same money amount by taxes, is then undoubtedly to increase the burthens of society.
David Ricardo
Image
The factors left out of the Ricardian equation are falling wages and idle capacity.
David Ricardo
Image
Gold and silver, like other commodities, have an intrinsic value, which is not arbitrary, but is dependent on their scarcity, the quantity of labour bestowed in procuring them, and the value of the capital employed in the mines which produce them.
David Ricardo
Image
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.
David Ricardo
Image
But a rise in the wages of labour would not equally affect commodities produced with machinery quickly consumed, and commodities produced with machinery slowly consumed.
David Ricardo
Image
As the revenue of the farmer is realized in raw produce, or in the value of raw produce, he is interested, as well as the landlord, in its high exchangeable value, but a low price of produce may be compensated to him by a great additional quantity.
David Ricardo
Image
Taxation under every form presents but a choice of evils.
David Ricardo
Image
Profits are not made by differential cleverness, but by differential stupidity.
David Ricardo
Image
No extension of foreign trade will immediately increase the amount of value in a country, although it will very powerfully contribute to increase the mass of commodities and therefore the sum of enjoyments.
David Ricardo
Image
Every transaction in commerce is an independent transaction.
David Ricardo
Image
Gold and silver are no doubt subject to fluctuations, from the discovery of new and more abundant mines but such discoveries are rare, and their effects, though powerful, are limited to periods of comparatively short duration.
David Ricardo
Image
The exchangeable value of all commodities rises as the difficulties of their production increase.
David Ricardo
Image
The price of corn will naturally rise with the difficulty of producing the last portions of it.
David Ricardo
Image
If a commodity were in no way useful, - in other words, if it could in no way contribute to our gratification, - it would be destitute of exchangeable value, however scarce it might be, or whatever quantity of labour might be necessary to procure it.
David Ricardo
Image
LABOUR, like all other things which are purchased and sold, and which may be increased or diminished in quantity, has its natural and its market price. The natural price of labour is that price which is necessary to enable the labourers, on with another, to subsist and to perpetuate their race, without either increase or diminution.
David Ricardo