… is from page 233 of Jacob Viner’s April 1927 Journal of Political Economy paper, “Adam Smith and Laissez Faire,” as this paper is reprinted in the 1958 collection of selected articles by Viner titled The Long View and the Short:
There is no possible room for doubt, however, that [Adam] Smith in general believed that there was, to say the least, a strong presumption against government activity beyond its fundamental duties of protection against its foreign foes and maintenance of justice.
DBx: Yes.
Today – June 5th – is the date engraved on Adam Smith’s tombstone as his date of birth.
