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Quote#Politics & Power

To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people…

Quote byAdam Smith · 1723–1790

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Book IV, Chapter VII, Part Third, p. 667..

English (original)

To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers, may at first appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers; but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers.

— Adam Smith

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