Quote#Politics & Power
When Hume and Adam Smith prophesied that a little increase of…
Quote byThomas Robert Malthus · 1766–1834
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Principles of Political Economy (Second Edition 1836), Book II, Chapter I, On The Progress of Wealth, Section X, p. 422.
English (original)
When Hume and Adam Smith prophesied that a little increase of national debt beyond the then amount of it, would probably occasion bankruptcy; the main cause of their error was the natural one, of not being able to see the vast increase of productive power to which the nation would subsequently obtain.
— Thomas Robert Malthus
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