All systems either of preference or of restraint, therefore, being thus completely taken away, the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord. Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man or order of men. The sovereign is completely discharged from a duty, in the attempting to perform which he must always be exposed to innumerable delusions, and for the proper performance of which no human wisdom or knowledge could ever be sufficient: the duty of superintending the industry of private people.
— Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations [1776]
- Adam Smith Biography
EconLib.org
- Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand
by Edmund A. Opitz
LibertyHaven.com
- The Writings of Adam Smith
by Julio H. Cole
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- A Modest Man Named Adam Smith
by Leo Rosten
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- An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
by Adam Smith
Online-Literature.com
- Smith Bibliography
Adam Smith Institute