How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Such sacrifices, though they might frequently be agreeable to the interest, are always mortifying to the pride of every nation. (4.7.45)
Adam Smith knows that his country would be better off if it let go of its colonies and gave them the power to engage in free trade. But he knows that the pride of weak people will always prevent this from happening.
Quote #2
The pride of man makes him love to domineer, and nothing mortifies him so much as to be obliged to condescend to persuade his inferiors. (3.2.9)
The evidence clearly shows that people with paid workers do better than people with slave laborers. But Smith knows that people will keep buying slaves because their pride makes them want to have total control over other people.
Quote #3
Wherever the law allows it, and the nature of the work can afford it, therefore, he will generally prefer the service of slaves to that of freemen. (3.2.9)
Again, Smith dwells on the stupidity of people who choose to buy slaves instead of having paid workers. On the surface, it might seem like this is better for the bottom line. But again, this is a case of people being blinded by pride and wanting to have control over other people for its own sake.
Quote #4
By such maxims as these, however, nations have been taught that their interest consisted in beggaring all their neighbours. (4.3.6)
The dominant thinking of Smith's time said that countries could only get richer if other ones got poorer. But for Smith this kind of thinking has been clouded by pride. The truth is that it's possible for everyone to get richer at the same time.
Quote #5
In consequence of the representations of Columbus, the council of Castile determined to take possession of countries of which the inhabitants were plainly incapable of defending themselves. (4.7.6).
People who have a lot of pride tend to do whatever they want no matter how much their actions hurt other people. And that's exactly what the Spanish did when they colonized America, at least in Adam Smith's mind.
Quote #6
To the expectation of finding gold and silver mines, those first settlers too joined that of discovering a north-west passage to the East Indies. They have hitherto been disappointed in both. (4.7.10)
Smith has very little patience for the people who first travelled to America and killed all the native peoples to steal the land. He actually takes pleasure in the fact that these people have been disappointed in some of their larger schemes. To him, there is no sin greater than pride.
Quote #7
The high rate of profit seems every where to destroy that parsimony which in other circumstances is natural to the character of the merchant. (4.7.40)
Smith hates it when merchants get a monopoly over a certain part of the economy because they have no incentive to behave smartly. They lose their competitive edge because they have no competitors and their pride causes them to get lazy and sloppy.
Quote #8
The most visionary enthusiast would scarce be capable of proposing such a measure, with any serious hopes at least of its ever being adopted. (4.7.45)
No matter how much evidence piles up, it seems like the people of Smith's time are doomed to be blinded by their pride. Smith has shown in many different ways how having colonies is bad for the economy of the mother country. But hey, people like to have colonies because it makes them feel all big and powerful… so it's unlikely that they'll give up those colonies without a fight.
Quote #9
If it was adopted, however, Great Britain would not only be immediately freed from the whole annual expence of the peace establishment of the colonies, but might settle with them such a treaty of commerce as would effectually secure her a free trade. (4.7.45)
If only it could see through its foolish pride and do the right thing, England would let go of its colonies and avoid spending so much of its money in keeping them under control.
Quote #10
They feel themselves, each individually, more respectable, and more likely to obtain the respect of their lawful superiors. (5.1.93)
It's important to educate the public because the more educated they are, the prouder they'll be. And in Smith's mind, people who are proud are less likely to cause a disturbance because they'll want other people to think they're respectable.