--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The education of the common people…" description: "\"The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a civilized and commercial society, the attention of the public more than that of people of so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg" --- # The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a… ![“The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a civilized and commercial society, the attention of the public more than that of people of some rank and fortune.” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg) > “The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a civilized and commercial society, the attention of the public more than that of people of some rank and fortune.” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public education benefits society as a whole and should be prioritized over elite interests. **In simple terms:** Society should prioritize public education. Key Takeaway Invest in broad education. Themes education equality public good Mood reflective optimistic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - school funding - community outreach Key Concepts social welfare democratic participation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equitable education funding? - What role should private wealth play in public schooling? A Different Perspective Balancing resources between elite and public needs can be politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-requires-1848772/) [Public People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-people-783265/) [Requires Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-civilized-6164635/) [Society Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-attention-1806958/) ## Related quotes > [Me: I'm fat. Society: Attention seeker! Me: I'm skinny. Society: Self obsessed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-m-fat-society-attention-seeker-me-i-m-skinny-society-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girl- I'm depressed…..Society- your over reacting…Girl- I cut myself….Society- its for attention…Girl kills herself…Society- we didnt see the signs…… YEAH NO ONE EVER DOES…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/girl-i-m-depressed-society-your-over-reacting-girl-i-cut-myself/) [Fading\_scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fading-scars/) > [A government of, for and by the people, requires much from the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-fletcher/a-government-of-for-and-by-the-people-requires-much-from-the-people/) [Ernie Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-fletcher/) > [Peace doesn't require two people; it requires only one. It has to be you. The problem begins and ends there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/peace-doesn-t-require-two-people-it-requires-only-one-it-has-to-be/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Success for most people requires unlearning as much as learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/success-for-most-people-requires-unlearning-as-much-as-learning/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Architecture is an imposed art in some ways, imposed upon the public, so people must be sure about what you're doing. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-piano/architecture-is-an-imposed-art-in-some-ways-imposed-upon-the-public/) [Renzo Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-piano/) > [Long before the idea of multiculturalism, in public people could say almost anything to you and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/long-before-the-idea-of-multiculturalism-in-public-people-could-say/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Public people are definitely captives. It wasn't really my ambition, but that's what happened. If I could find another word that would be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bruni/public-people-are-definitely-captives-it-wasn-t-really-my-ambition/) [Carla Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bruni/) > [A lot of people are very sacred with their ideas, and there is something to protecting yourself in that way, but there's also something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/a-lot-of-people-are-very-sacred-with-their-ideas-and-there-is/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [One of the wonderful things about this glorious holiday trip I'm on is that I'm in public with people. It hasn't been inclined... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-brett/one-of-the-wonderful-things-about-this-glorious-holiday-trip-i-m-on/) [Jeremy Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-brett/) > [I think in public, people are much more sane than on the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-think-in-public-people-are-much-more-sane-than-on-the-internet/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [Today, there's an expectation that you get to know public people. In the past, it was much more what you did and how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/today-there-s-an-expectation-that-you-get-to-know-public-people-in/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [With acting, there is a level of anonymity which is conducive to your profession. There are examples of very public people who are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/with-acting-there-is-a-level-of-anonymity-which-is-conducive-to-your/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [Friends told me that the latest trend, at least in Europe, is public sex. They showed me some clips, and they're terrifying. A couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/friends-told-me-that-the-latest-trend-at-least-in-europe-is-public/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [I work for the public, for the people who are paying to go to the cinema, rather than for the critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-work-for-the-public-for-the-people-who-are-paying-to-go-to-the/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) ## More by Adam Smith > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The effects of the division of labour, in the general business of society, will be more easily understood by considering in what manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-effects-of-the-division-of-labour-in-the-general-business-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Defense is superior to opulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/defense-is-superior-to-opulence/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“There is a great deal of ruin in a nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/there-is-a-great-deal-of-ruin-in-a-nation/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“The profligacy of a man of fashion is looked upon with much less contempt and aversion, than that of a man of meaner condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-profligacy-of-a-man-of-fashion-is-looked-upon-with-much-less/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-ambition-the-desire-of-real-superiority-of-leading-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/people-of-the-same-trade-seldom-meet-together-even-for-merriment-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/how-selfish-soever-man-may-be-supposed-there-are-evidently-some/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The liberal reward of labour, therefore, as it is the affect of increasing wealth, so it is the cause of increasing population. To complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-liberal-reward-of-labour-therefore-as-it-is-the-affect-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/it-is-not-from-the-benevolence-of-the-butcher-the-brewer-or-the-baker/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [When we have read a book or poem so often that we can no longer find any amusement in reading it by ourselves, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/when-we-have-read-a-book-or-poem-so-often-that-we-can-no-longer-find/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/we-are-but-one-of-the-multitude-in-no-respect-better-than-any-other/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) [Explore all 267 Adam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a civilized and commercial society, the attention of the public more than that of people of some rank and fortune.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-education-of-the-common-people-requires-perhaps-in-a-civilized/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-education-of-the-common-people-requires-perhaps-in-a-civilized/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/adam-smith-1040_attention_the-education-of-the-common-people-requi_808443.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The education of the common people requires, perhaps, in a civilized and commercial society, the attention…” — Adam Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The education of the common people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-education-of-the-common-people-requires-perhaps-in-a-civilized/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-education-of-the-common-people-requires-perhaps-in-a-civilized/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```