The Wealth of Nations Competition Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

It is the surplus produce of the land, or what remains after deducting the maintenance, first, of the cultivators, and afterwards, of the proprietors, that maintains and employs the unproductive class. (4.9.15)

In any given country, there will always be a class of productive people that has to support the unproductive people. One of the biggest differences between civilization and the jungle is that people in a civilization aren't left to die on the street even if they can't fend for themselves. It's assumed that the society will take care of them whether they're productive or not.