My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

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October 7, 2006
5 Comment

This Saturday: a quote from Adam Smith.

“Adam_smith_1“Every man…is first and principally recommended to his own care; and every man is certainly…fitter and abler to take care of himself than of any other person.” –Adam Smith.

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  • http://jchyip.blogspot.com Jason Yip

    I’d wary about this.
    It’s easier to help others than it is to help yourself and introspection can sometimes be misleading.

  • http://pleia77.blogspot.com PL

    Hi Gretchen– Friend of J’s from college… met at the last reunion. Very glad to see you’ve joined the blogosphere! Will check back… –aka Maria

  • http://www.kentblumberg.com Kent Blumberg

    This isn’t a favorite quote for me, either. On the one hand, I agree with Smith that you need to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others. However, Smith seems to be calling on us to care only for ourselves, and I don’t subscribe to that view. In my experience, the more I help others get what they want, the more I seem to get what I need.

  • http://www.allbusiness.com/blog/CustomerServiceExperience/10783 Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross

    I could be flippant and say that he’s saying, “Watch out for #1.” But let me give you 3 examples of what he could mean. The dedicated co-worker who has the flu (and knows it) but shows up for work anyway, thereby infecting other co-workers.
    The parent who fails as a role model because it’s “do as I say, not as I do.” (My mom counseling me not to smoke cigarettes as she does.)
    Finally, the addict who can’t be helped until he helps himself.
    Great blog. I’ll be reading.
    Regards,
    Glenn

  • ML

    My perspective is as a married woman. I read the quote as saying that it is best to use your own talents to take care of yourself rather than depending on another to know what your needs are and to adequately meet them. When I first read the quote I wrote it down so I could put it on my bulletin board.
    Great site, I look forward to reading it.

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