We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as well as B, when the only question is whether A has done as well as he could.

Quote by William Graham Sumner

Topics: William Graham Sumner Quotes

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

It is the supreme test of a system of government whether its machinery is adequate...

It is the supreme test of a system of government whether its machinery is adequate...

There ought to be no laws to guarantee property against the folly of its possessors.

There ought to be no laws to guarantee property against the folly of its possessors.

I have before me a newspaper slip on which a writer expresses the opinion that...

I have before me a newspaper slip on which a writer expresses the opinion that...

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and...

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and...

If I want to be free from any other man's dictation, I must understand that...

If I want to be free from any other man's dictation, I must understand that...

It is a beneficent incident of the ownership of land that a pioneer who reduces...

It is a beneficent incident of the ownership of land that a pioneer who reduces...

It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and...

It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and...

Labor organizations are formed, not to employ combined effort for a common object, but to...

Labor organizations are formed, not to employ combined effort for a common object, but to...

Furthermore, the unearned increment from land appears in the United States as a gain to...

Furthermore, the unearned increment from land appears in the United States as a gain to...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

There is every indication that we are to see new developments of the power of...

There is every indication that we are to see new developments of the power of...

It is remarkable that jealousy of individual property in land often goes along with very...

It is remarkable that jealousy of individual property in land often goes along with very...

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

The aggregation of large fortunes is not at all a thing to be regretted.

The aggregation of large fortunes is not at all a thing to be regretted.

Any one who believes that any great enterprise of an industrial character can be started...

Any one who believes that any great enterprise of an industrial character can be started...

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

Moreover, there is an unearned increment on capital and on labor, due to the presence,...

Moreover, there is an unearned increment on capital and on labor, due to the presence,...

The waste of capital, in proportion to the total capital, in this country between 1800...

The waste of capital, in proportion to the total capital, in this country between 1800...