Defense Quotes
Defense is superior to opulence.
"Defense is superior to opulence."— Adam Smith
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Meaning of this quote
In a discussion of the Navigation Acts, Smith gives national defense priority over commercial wealth.
Key takeaway:
Evaluate a trade-off within its stated historical and strategic context.
Origin of the quote
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
Who actually said this?
Condensed version of the claim that defence is “of much more importance than opulence”, in Book IV, chapter II.
Source:
The Wealth of Nations (1776)
