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William Petty Biography

Sir William Petty FRS (Romsey, 26 May 1623 – 16 December 1687) was an English economist, scientist and philosopher. He first became prominent serving Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth in Ireland. He developed efficient methods to survey the land that was to be confiscated and given to Cromwell's soldiers. He also remained a significant figure under King Charles II and King James II, as did many others who had served Cromwell.

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William Petty Quotes

That some are poorer than others, ever was and ever will be: And that many are naturally querulous and envious, is an Evil as old as the World.

Envious, Evil, Naturally, World

No man pays double or twice for the same thing, forasmuch as nothing can be spent but once.

Double, Double Standard, Forasmuch, Man, Men, Pay

Here we are to remember that in consequence of our opinion that labor is the Father and active principle of wealth, as lands are the Mother, that the state by killing, mutilating, or imprisoning their members do withal punish themselves.

Consequence, Father, Land, Mother, Punish, Remember

Wherefore the race being not to the swift, etc. but time and chance happening to all men, I leave the Judgement of the whole to the Candid, of whose correction I shall never be impatient.

Correction, Etc, Men, Race, Whole

The trade of banks is the buying and selling of interest and exchange.

Buying, Interest, Selling, Trade

A thousand acres that can feed a thousand souls is better than ten thousand acres of no more effect.

Acres, Effect, Feed, Soul, Thousand

The method I take to do this is not yet very usual; for instead of using only comparative and superlative Words, and intellectual Arguments, I have taken the course (as a Specimen of the Political Arithmetic I have long aimed at) to express myself in Terms of Number, Weight, or Measure; to use only Arguments of Sense, and to consider only such Causes, as have visible Foundations in Nature.

Nature, Science, Sense, Taken, Using

An house is of a double nature, viz. , one, wherein it is a way and means of expence, the other as it is an instrument and tool of gain.

Expence, Gain, House, Mean, Tools, Wherein

Every seaman is not only a navigator, but a merchant and also a soldier.

Merchant, Navigators, Seaman, Seamen, Soldier

Without the knowledge of the true number of the people, as a principle, the whole scope and use of keeping bills of birth and burials is impaired; wherefore by laborious conjectures and calculations to deduce the number of people from the births and burials, may be ingenious, but very preposterous.

Births, Numbers, People, Preposterous, Principle, Principles

It were good to know how much hay an acre of every sort will bear; how many cattle the same weight of each sort of hay will feed and fatten; what quantity of grain and other commodities the same acre will bear in one, three or seven years; unto what use each soil is proper; all which particulars I call intrinsic value, for there is also another value merely accidental or extrinsic.

Accidental, Bear, Bears, Call, Soil, Years

I hope no man takes what I said about the living and dieing of men for mathematical demonstration.

Demonstration, Dieing, Living, Men, Said

Raising of money may indeed change the species, but with so much loss as the foreign pieces were raised unto, above their intrinsick value.

Change, Loss, Money, Pieces, Unto

Money is the best rule of commerce.

Commerce, Finance, Money, Rule

Causes of Civil War are also, that the Wealth of the Nation is in too few mens hands, and that no certain means are provided to keep all men from a necessity either to beg, or steal, or be Souldiers.

Causes, Mean, Men, Provided, War, Wealth