People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for…
“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty or justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render them necessary.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People in the same profession naturally gather, often leading to collusion that harms consumers, which law cannot fully prevent without infringing liberty.
In simple terms: Trade groups can conspire, making regulation hard.
Key Takeaway
Promote transparency and competition.
Themes
economics
ethics
law
competition
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- regulatory bodies
- industry conferences
- consumer advocacy
Key Concepts
antitrust
market dynamics
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards balance market fairness with individual liberty?
- How can transparency reduce conspiratorial behavior?
A Different Perspective
Enforcing antitrust can clash with free association rights.