Henry Charles Carey Quotes

Powerful Henry Charles Carey for Daily Growth

About Henry Charles Carey

Henry Charles Carey (1843-1906), an American economist and political philosopher, was born on December 7, 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Richard Carey and Mary Henry. He was the grandnephew of renowned economist and political thinker, Henry C. Carey Sr., who significantly influenced his work. Henry Carey Jr. received his early education at a private school in Philadelphia before studying law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. After graduating in 1864, he practiced law for several years but found greater passion in economics and philosophy. Carey's major works were heavily influenced by his grandfather's protectionist economic theories, which he expanded upon. His most notable work, "The Unsound Money" (1892), argued against the free coinage of silver, asserting that it would lead to an undesirable inflation of the money supply. In "The Art of Propaganda" (1895), Carey addressed the power and manipulation inherent in propaganda, a concept that remains relevant today. His other significant works include "Coin's Financial School" (1879) and "Ways and Means: An Inquiry into the Belligerent Policy of Great Britain and the Tariff Policy of the United States" (1895). Carey was also a prolific writer for newspapers, contributing to several, including the Philadelphia Ledger and The North American Review. His political beliefs leaned towards the Populist Party, and he served as its candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1892. Henry Charles Carey Jr. died on February 23, 1906, in Philadelphia. Despite not achieving the same level of fame as his grandfather, Henry Carey Jr.'s contributions to economics, political philosophy, and journalism remain significant and influential.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The great rule of conduct for us in dealing with all men is to watch our thoughts, and check them if they show symptoms of becoming evil, and to let them act freely when they are good."

This quote by Henry Charles Carey emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-control in our interactions with others. It suggests that we should be vigilant about our thoughts, ensuring they remain benevolent, and allowing them to guide our actions when they are good. In essence, it encourages us to cultivate a positive mindset and act accordingly, fostering harmonious relationships with others.


"To succeed in any enterprise requires a man first to be clear in his own mind what he would do and then to carry through that purpose."

This quote by Henry Charles Carey emphasizes the importance of clarity and perseverance in achieving success. It suggests that before embarking on any endeavor, one must first have a clear understanding of their goals. Having a well-defined purpose provides direction and focus, which are essential for overcoming obstacles and staying motivated during the journey towards success. Carrying through this purpose refers to the commitment and effort required to see the endeavor through to completion. In essence, the quote highlights the need for both vision and determination in personal and professional pursuits.


"The only way to secure freedom for the future is to establish a system of law by which all may live equally before the law."

This quote by Henry Charles Carey emphasizes the importance of equal justice under the law as a means to ensure lasting freedom for future generations. The principle suggests that a society where everyone, regardless of their status or position, is treated fairly and equally by the legal system is essential to safeguarding individual liberties in the long term. By establishing and upholding such a system, we can strive towards a more just and equitable society.


"Ambition is a desire of the eye, and covetousness, the desire of the belly; both are insatiable."

This quote by Henry Charles Carey suggests that ambition (desire for power or prestige) and greed (desire for material possessions) are relentless and never-ending desires, much like the eye's desire to see and the stomach's desire to eat. The idea is that these drives can consume a person, as they are insatiable, meaning no amount of power, recognition or wealth can ever truly satisfy them. This insight underscores the potential dangers of allowing these desires to control one's life, as they can lead to endless pursuit and dissatisfaction.


"No man ever yet became great or good except through many and great errors."

This quote suggests that personal growth, greatness, and goodness are often the result of numerous significant mistakes. The journey towards personal excellence involves trials, errors, and lessons learned from those missteps. Through these experiences, an individual learns resilience, wisdom, and self-awareness, ultimately leading to personal development and positive impact. In essence, making mistakes is a natural part of the process of becoming great or good.


From that date the abandonment of the older State proceeded with a rapidity never before known, and with it grew the domestic slave trade and the pro-slavery feeling.

- Henry Charles Carey

Feeling, Date, Before, Abandonment

By adopting the 'free trade,' or British, system, we place ourselves side by side with the men who have ruined Ireland and India, and are now poisoning and enslaving the Chinese people.

- Henry Charles Carey

India, Side, Chinese People, Ireland

It will be said, however, that protection tends to destroy commerce, the civilizer of mankind. Directly the reverse, however, is the fact.

- Henry Charles Carey

Fact, Mankind, However, Directly

To enable men to exercise that power is the object of protection.

- Henry Charles Carey

Men, Exercise, Enable, Object

In the period from 1824 to 1833, the tendency was steadily in the former direction, but it was only in the latter part of it that it was made really efficient.

- Henry Charles Carey

Efficient, Period, Tendency, Steadily

As regards this country, in which protection has always to some extent existed, it is the best customer that England ever had, and our demands upon her grow most steadily and regularly under protection.

- Henry Charles Carey

Always, Which, Extent, Steadily

The whole action of the laws tended to increase the number of consumers of food and to diminish the number of producers, was due the invention of the Malthusian theory of population.

- Henry Charles Carey

Laws, Whole, Increase, Invention

The system has for its object an increase of persons that are to intervene between the producer and the consumer, living on the product of the land and labour of others, diminishing the power of the first, and increasing the number of the last.

- Henry Charles Carey

Product, Living, Diminishing, Consumer

The natural consequence of our submission, even in part, to the system that looks to compelling the export of raw products, the exhaustion of the land, the cheapening of labour, and the export of the labourer.

- Henry Charles Carey

Natural, Consequence, Export

Wherever it is resisted, slaver dies away and freedom grows.

- Henry Charles Carey

Freedom, Away, Grows, Resisted

It the British System is the most gigantic system of slavery the world has yet seen, and therefore it is that freedom gradually disappears from every country over which England is enabled to obtain control.

- Henry Charles Carey

Over, Which, Obtain, Disappears

The first of all commodities to be exchanged is labour, and the freedom of man consists only in the exercise of the right to determine for himself in what manner his labour shall be employed, and how he will dispose of its products.

- Henry Charles Carey

Will, Commodities, Determine, First Of All

Then it was that the exports of slaves from Virginia and the Carolinas was so great that the population of those States remained almost, if not quite stationary.

- Henry Charles Carey

Slaves, Exports, Almost, Virginia

The commerce of India does not grow, nor does that of Portugal, or of Turkey; that but that of the protected countries does increase, as has been shown in the case of Spain, and can now be shown in that of Germany.

- Henry Charles Carey

Grow, Been, Spain, Increase

By adopting the other trade, we place ourselves by the side of those whose measures tend not only to the improvement of their own subjects, but to the emancipation of the slave everywhere.

- Henry Charles Carey

Other, Side, Emancipation, Adopting

In this country protection has always, to some extent, existed; but at some times it has been efficient, and at others not; and our tendency toward freedom or slavery has always been in the direct ratio of its efficiency or inefficiency.

- Henry Charles Carey

Country, Always, Extent, Inefficiency

Then it was that were passed the laws restricting emancipation and prohibiting education.

- Henry Charles Carey

Laws, Emancipation, Restricting

In 1833, protection was abandoned, and a tariff was established by which it was provided that we should, in a few years, have a system of merely revenue duties.

- Henry Charles Carey

Established, Which, Provided, Revenue

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