The riches of a country are ...

The riches of a country are to be valued by the quantity of labor its inhabitants are able to purchase, and not by the quantity of silver and gold they possess; which will purchase more or less labor, and therefore is more or less valuable, as is said before, according to its scarcity or plenty.
The riches of a country are to be valued by the quantity of labor its inhabitants are able to purchase, and not by the quantity of silver and gold they possess; which will purchase more or less labor, and therefore is more or less valuable, as is said before, according to its scarcity or plenty.

Quotes from the same author

One today is worth two tomorrows.
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.
Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.
Honesty is the best policy.
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.