Statements in prose and verse which reflect
all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 1st century to the present day.
The
quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations
from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert
Burns, "To see oursels as others see us"
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This week’s quotations are inspired by the History Dates above which
feature two very successful Scottish businessmen who in turn are
best known for their philanthropy – Sir Tom Hunter and Andrew
Carnegie. The later made his fortune in America in the 19th
century and is perhaps the most famous son of the Fife town of
Dunfermline. Dunfermline will be celebrating this fact in the
Carnegie Festival which will run from 21 August to 7 September 2008.
Visit
www.carnegiefestival.com for further details. All businessmen
should still heed the words of another son of Fife, Kirkcaldy-born
Adam Smith (1723-1790), the father of modern economics. A
long-overdue statue of Adam Smith was unveiled last week in
Edinburgh. The 10ft high statue, on a massive stone, was created by
Paisley sculptor Alexander Stoddart and unveiled by Nobel Laurate
economist Vernon Smith.
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Andrew
Carnegie (1836-1919)
No man
can become rich without himself enriching others.
Sir Thomas
Blane Hunter
My own
belief is that with great wealth comes great responsibility.
(Scotsman
17 July 2007)
Adam Smith
(1723-1790)
No
society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater
part of the members are poor and miserable. It is but equity, besides,
that they who feed, clothe and lodge the whole body of the people,
should have such a share of the produce of their labour as to be
themselves well fed, clothed and lodged.
(The Wealth
of Nations 1776)
Our
merchants and master-manufactures complain much of the effects of high
wages in raising the price, and thereby lessening the sale of their
goods both at home and abroad. They say nothing concerning the bad
effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious
effects of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people.
(The Wealth of Nations 1776)
