Defense Quotes
Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.
"Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all."— Adam Smith
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Meaning of this quote
Smith describes property protection as giving government a role in maintaining unequal ownership.
Key takeaway:
Examine whose interests a protective institution serves in practice.
Origin of the quote
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
Who actually said this?
VerifiedWording matches the source apart from edition spelling, punctuation, or word spacing. Original title preserved.
Source:
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
