Men are to be guided only by their self-interests. Good…
“Men are to be guided only by their self-interests. Good government is a good balancing of these; and, except a keen eye and appetite for self-interest, requires no virtue in any quarter. To both parties it is emphatically a machine: to the discontented, a taxing-machine; to the contented, a machine for securing property. Its duties and its faults are not those of a father, but of an active parish-constable.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Society should be organized around individuals' self‑interest, with government balancing those interests without needing moral virtue.
In simple terms: Self‑interest drives society; government balances it.
Key Takeaway
Design institutions that align incentives.
Themes
politics
economics
human nature
government
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy design
- business regulation
- taxation debates
- public administration
Key Concepts
liberalism
public choice theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can self‑interest be aligned with common good?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of power?
A Different Perspective
May overlook collective welfare and moral responsibilities.