--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The proportions, too, in which the…" description: "\"The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to support labour, and the capital that is invested in tools, machinery and buildings, may be variou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg" --- # The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to… ![“The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to support labour, and the capital that is invested in tools, machinery and buildings, may be variously combined.” quote by David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg) > “The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to support labour, and the capital that is invested in tools, machinery and buildings, may be variously combined.” [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capital should be allocated between labor support and equipment to maximize productivity. **In simple terms:** Balance investment in workers and tools. Key Takeaway Allocate resources wisely. Themes economics investment productivity Mood analytical practical Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - factory expansion - technology upgrades - skill training Key Concepts capital theory labor theory of value Questions to Reflect On - What is the optimal mix for your industry? - How do you assess returns on labor vs. capital? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one side can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [“To exploit living labour, capital must destroy dead labour which is still useful. Loving to suck warm young blood, it kills corpses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amadeo-bordiga/to-exploit-living-labour-capital-must-destroy-dead-labour-which-is/) [Amadeo Bordiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amadeo-bordiga/) > [Capitalism has triumphed all over the world, but this triumph is only the prelude to the triumph of labour over capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/capitalism-has-triumphed-all-over-the-world-but-this-triumph-is-only/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Government spending reduces the capital that could be invested to serve consumers and to produce new employment opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/government-spending-reduces-the-capital-that-could-be-invested-to/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The most valuable of all capital is that invested in human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-marshall/the-most-valuable-of-all-capital-is-that-invested-in-human-beings/) [Alfred Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-marshall/) > [Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/politeness-and-civility-are-the-best-capital-ever-invested-in-business/) [P. 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We fight against the buildings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/in-new-york-we-re-always-confined-with-spaces-our-restaurants-are/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Extreme weather threatens our energy and electric grid, federal buildings, transportation infrastructure, access to natural resources, public health, our relationships across the globe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cartwright/extreme-weather-threatens-our-energy-and-electric-grid-federal/) [Matt Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cartwright/) > [“The structure of life I have described in buildings - the structure which I believe to be objective - is deeply and inextricably connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-thomsen-brits/the-structure-of-life-i-have-described-in-buildings-the-structure/) [Louisa Thomsen Brits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-thomsen-brits/) > [The human animal originally came from out-of-doors. When spring begins to move in his bones, he just must get out again. Moreover, as civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-human-animal-originally-came-from-out-of-doors-when-spring-begins/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I grew up in a big sky country. Then I lived in Manhattan, where you can only see the sky between buildings, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-grew-up-in-a-big-sky-country-then-i-lived-in-manhattan-where-you/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Seoul will strictly limit the total greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and expand the construction of zero-energy buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/seoul-will-strictly-limit-the-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from/) [Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) ## More by David Ricardo > [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/) > [To alter the money value of commodities, by altering the value of money, and yet to raise the same money amount by taxes, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/to-alter-the-money-value-of-commodities-by-altering-the-value-of/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Like all other contracts, wages should be left to the fair and free competition of themarket, and should never be controlled by the interference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/like-all-other-contracts-wages-should-be-left-to-the-fair-and-free/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [During the period of capital moving from one employment to another, the profits on that to which capital is flowing will be relatively high,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/during-the-period-of-capital-moving-from-one-employment-to-another/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [There is no way of keeping profits up but by keeping wages down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/there-is-no-way-of-keeping-profits-up-but-by-keeping-wages-down/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [If the quantity of labour realized in commodities, regulate their exchangeable value, every increase of the quantity of labour must augment the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/if-the-quantity-of-labour-realized-in-commodities-regulate-their/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Whenever the current of money is forcibly stopped, and when money is prevented from settling at its just level, there are no limits to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/whenever-the-current-of-money-is-forcibly-stopped-and-when-money-is/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [The exchangeable value of all commodities rises as the difficulties of their production increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-exchangeable-value-of-all-commodities-rises-as-the-difficulties/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Whether a bank lent one million, ten million, or a hundred millions, they would not permanently alter the market rate of interest; they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/whether-a-bank-lent-one-million-ten-million-or-a-hundred-millions/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [If then the prosperity of the commercial classes, will most certainly lead to accumulation of capital, and the encouragement of productive industry; these can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/if-then-the-prosperity-of-the-commercial-classes-will-most-certainly/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [I have already expressed my opinion on this subject in treating of rent, and have now only further to add, that rent is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/i-have-already-expressed-my-opinion-on-this-subject-in-treating-of/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [A BOUNTY on the exportation of corn tends to lower its price to the foreign consumer, but it has no permanent effect on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/a-bounty-on-the-exportation-of-corn-tends-to-lower-its-price-to-the/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Labour, like all other things which are purchased and sold... has its natural and its market price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/labour-like-all-other-things-which-are-purchased-and-sold-has-its/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [If a commodity were in no way useful, - in other words, if it could in no way contribute to our gratification, - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/if-a-commodity-were-in-no-way-useful-in-other-words-if-it-could-in-no/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [As the revenue of the farmer is realized in raw produce, or in the value of raw produce, he is interested, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/as-the-revenue-of-the-farmer-is-realized-in-raw-produce-or-in-the/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) [Explore all 72 David Ricardo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) ## More Buildings quotes > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [Seoul will strictly limit the total greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and expand the construction of zero-energy buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/seoul-will-strictly-limit-the-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from/) [Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/) > [I grew up in a big sky country. Then I lived in Manhattan, where you can only see the sky between buildings, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-grew-up-in-a-big-sky-country-then-i-lived-in-manhattan-where-you/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [The human animal originally came from out-of-doors. When spring begins to move in his bones, he just must get out again. Moreover, as civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-human-animal-originally-came-from-out-of-doors-when-spring-begins/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“The structure of life I have described in buildings - the structure which I believe to be objective - is deeply and inextricably connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-thomsen-brits/the-structure-of-life-i-have-described-in-buildings-the-structure/) [Louisa Thomsen Brits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-thomsen-brits/) > [Extreme weather threatens our energy and electric grid, federal buildings, transportation infrastructure, access to natural resources, public health, our relationships across the globe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cartwright/extreme-weather-threatens-our-energy-and-electric-grid-federal/) [Matt Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cartwright/) > [In New York, we're always confined with spaces. Our restaurants are difficult to navigate as cooks and to operate. We fight against the buildings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/in-new-york-we-re-always-confined-with-spaces-our-restaurants-are/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Most buildings, whether they're Gothic cathedrals or Romanesque ones, were high tech for their time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/most-buildings-whether-they-re-gothic-cathedrals-or-romanesque-ones/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [I don't measure success by how many buildings have my name on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-don-t-measure-success-by-how-many-buildings-have-my-name-on-it/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I don't like to talk about sustainability, because sometimes I see green buildings that don't appear any different from those in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-yansong/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-sustainability-because-sometimes-i-see/) [Ma Yansong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-yansong/) > [Once I tried to make a standardization of staircases. Probably that is one of the oldest of the standardizations. Of course, we design new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/once-i-tried-to-make-a-standardization-of-staircases-probably-that-is/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [My buildings will be my legacy... they will speak for me long after I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-morgan/my-buildings-will-be-my-legacy-they-will-speak-for-me-long-after-i-m/) Julia Morgan > [When I first came to New York City, what I was thrilled about was not the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gibbons/when-i-first-came-to-new-york-city-what-i-was-thrilled-about-was-not/) [Dave Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gibbons/) > [I come from Canada, and maternity leave is six months to a year, and they also have paternity leave, and I think that there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-come-from-canada-and-maternity-leave-is-six-months-to-a-year-and/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [I love to walk through the streets of Jesus Maria and Pueblo Libre. The Spanish colonial buildings are in bright colors, two stories high,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/i-love-to-walk-through-the-streets-of-jesus-maria-and-pueblo-libre/) [Daniel Alarcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/) [Browse all 376 Buildings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to support labour, and the capital that is invested in tools, machinery and buildings, may be variously combined.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Ricardo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital-that-is-to-support-labour/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buildings" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital-that-is-to-support-labour/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/david-ricardo-9461_buildings_the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital_2605222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The proportions, too, in which the capital that is to support labour, and the capital that is invested in…” — David Ricardo", "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": "David Ricardo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The proportions, too, in which the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital-that-is-to-support-labour/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/the-proportions-too-in-which-the-capital-that-is-to-support-labour/#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 } } ] } ```