--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All those who, since Adam Smith, have…" description: "\"All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their attention to Political Economy, agree that in reality we do not buy articles of consumption with mon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jean-baptiste-say-9216_adam_all-those-who-since-adam-smith-have-turn_1529300.jpg" --- # All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their… ![“All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their attention to Political Economy, agree that in reality we do not buy articles of consumption with money, the circulating medium with which we pay for them. We must in the first instance have bought this money itself by the sale of our produce.” quote by Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jean-baptiste-say-9216_adam_all-those-who-since-adam-smith-have-turn_1529300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jean-baptiste-say-9216_adam_all-those-who-since-adam-smith-have-turn_1529300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jean-baptiste-say-9216_adam_all-those-who-since-adam-smith-have-turn_1529300.jpg) > “All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their attention to Political Economy, agree that in reality we do not buy articles of consumption with money, the circulating medium with which we pay for them. We must in the first instance have bought this money itself by the sale of our produce.” [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Money is not a commodity bought with money; it must be earned by selling goods first. **In simple terms:** Money must be earned before it can be spent. Key Takeaway Earn before you spend. Themes economics money trade Mood analytical critical Type economic theoretical When to use this quote - selling produce - budgeting - business planning - investment decisions Key Concepts value theory circulation labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you generate income before needing to spend? - What happens when production lags demand? A Different Perspective Assumes a market where production always precedes consumption, which may not hold in barter or credit economies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-economy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [It is a singular advantage of taxes on articles of consumption that they contain in their own nature a security against excess. They prescribe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-singular-advantage-of-taxes-on-articles-of-consumption-that/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“Which would have advanced the most at the end of a month—the boy who had made his own jackknife from the ore which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/which-would-have-advanced-the-most-at-the-end-of-a-month-the-boy-who/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/even-the-poor-student-studies-and-is-taught-only-political-economy/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Where are we to look for the consumption required but among the unproductive labourers of Adam Smith?.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/where-are-we-to-look-for-the-consumption-required-but-among-the/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [Political economy has only become a science since it has been confined to the results of inductive investigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/political-economy-has-only-become-a-science-since-it-has-been/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Wherefore it is impossible to succeed in comparing wealth of different eras or different nations. This, in political economy, like squaring the circle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/wherefore-it-is-impossible-to-succeed-in-comparing-wealth-of/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Some writers maintain arithmetic to be only the only sure guide in political economy; for my part, I see so many detestable systems built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/some-writers-maintain-arithmetic-to-be-only-the-only-sure-guide-in/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The celebrated Adam Smith was the first to point out the immense increase of production, and the superior perfection of products referable to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/the-celebrated-adam-smith-was-the-first-to-point-out-the-immense/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The first record I bought with my own money was Rio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/the-first-record-i-bought-with-my-own-money-was-rio/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [The most valuable things in life can't be bought with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipe-nover/the-most-valuable-things-in-life-can-t-be-bought-with-money/) [Phillipe Nover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipe-nover/) > [The first album I bought with my own money was 'A Hard Day's Night.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/the-first-album-i-bought-with-my-own-money-was-a-hard-day-s-night/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I always had faith in the internet. I believed in it and thought it was obviously going to change the way the world worked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takafumi-horie/i-always-had-faith-in-the-internet-i-believed-in-it-and-thought-it/) [Takafumi Horie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takafumi-horie/) > [“The first book that I bought with my own money was "The Blue Aspic" by Edward Gorey. In fact, when the first two volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/the-first-book-that-i-bought-with-my-own-money-was-the-blue-aspic-by/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [When it goes bad, you know supporters will be angry at players who were bought for most money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/when-it-goes-bad-you-know-supporters-will-be-angry-at-players-who/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [I don't know if this sounds bad, but I am set. I don't spend my money. I don't buy cars or have an expensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-don-t-know-if-this-sounds-bad-but-i-am-set-i-don-t-spend-my-money-i/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) ## More by Jean-Baptiste Say > [To the labor of man alone Smith ascribes the power of producing values. This is an error. A more exact analysis demonstrates... that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/to-the-labor-of-man-alone-smith-ascribes-the-power-of-producing/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [No human being has the faculty of originally creating matter, which is more than nature itself can do. But any one may avail himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/no-human-being-has-the-faculty-of-originally-creating-matter-which-is/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The best scheme of finance is, to spend as little as possible; and the best tax is always the lightest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/the-best-scheme-of-finance-is-to-spend-as-little-as-possible-and-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [But, is it possible for princes and ministers to be enlightened, when private individuals are not so?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/but-is-it-possible-for-princes-and-ministers-to-be-enlightened-when/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [To have never done anything but make the eighteenth part of a pin, is a sorry account for a human being to give of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/to-have-never-done-anything-but-make-the-eighteenth-part-of-a-pin-is/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [All travellers agree that protestant are both richer and more populous than catholic countries;and the reason is, because the habits of the former are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/all-travellers-agree-that-protestant-are-both-richer-and-more/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The quantity of money, which is readily parted with to obtain a thing is called its price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/the-quantity-of-money-which-is-readily-parted-with-to-obtain-a-thing/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [A science only advances with certainty, when the plan of inquiry and the object of our researches have been clearly defined; otherwise a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/a-science-only-advances-with-certainty-when-the-plan-of-inquiry-and/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Whence it is evident that the remedy must be adapted to the particular cause of the mischief; consequently, the cause must be ascertained, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/whence-it-is-evident-that-the-remedy-must-be-adapted-to-the/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Freedoms and apprenticeships are likewise expedients of police,not of that wholesome branch of police, whose object is the maintenance of the public and private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/freedoms-and-apprenticeships-are-likewise-expedients-of-police-not-of/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [capital cannot be more beneficially employed, then in strengthening and aiding the productive powers of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/capital-cannot-be-more-beneficially-employed-then-in-strengthening/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Capital can seldom be made productive, without undergoing several changes both of form and of place, the risk of which is always more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/capital-can-seldom-be-made-productive-without-undergoing-several/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [Nothing is more dangerous in practice, than an obstinate, unbending adherence to a system, particularly in its application to the wants and errors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/nothing-is-more-dangerous-in-practice-than-an-obstinate-unbending/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [It is doubtless very desirable, that private persons should have a correct knowledge of their personal interests; but it must be infinitely more so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/it-is-doubtless-very-desirable-that-private-persons-should-have-a/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [And let no government imagine, that, to strip them of the power of defrauding their subjects, is to deprive them of a valuable privilege.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/and-let-no-government-imagine-that-to-strip-them-of-the-power-of/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) [Explore all 73 Jean-Baptiste Say quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) ## More Adam quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All those who, since Adam Smith, have turned their attention to Political Economy, agree that in reality we do not buy articles of consumption with money, the circulating medium with which we pay for them. 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