The sea and wind can at the same time convey my neighbour's vessel and my own. - Jean-Baptiste Say

The best scheme of finance is, to spend as little as possible; and the best tax is always the lightest.

Wherefore it is impossible to succeed in comparing wealth of different eras or different nations. This, in political economy, like squaring the circle in mathematics, is impracticable, for want of a common mean or measure to go by.

The wants of mankind are supplied and satisfied out of the gross values produced and created, and not out of the net values only.