Quotation by

Adam Smith

As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce.
Men

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Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Adam Smith is saying that once all land is owned by private individuals, those landowners want to earn money from it without putting in any work themselves. They expect payment just for allowing others to use the natural resources that come from the land.

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