Country Quotes
As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce.
"As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce."— Adam Smith
Download in different sizes
Meaning of this quote
Private ownership of land allows owners to charge for access even to natural resources they did not create.
Key takeaway:
Distinguish income from ownership from income earned by producing something.
Origin of the quote
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
Who actually said this?
VerifiedWording located in the primary text; capitalization and punctuation may vary.
Source:
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
