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What is the reward most proper for encouraging industry, prudence, and circumspection? Success in every sort of business.
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“What is the reward most proper for encouraging industry, prudence, and circumspection? Success in every sort of business.”

Adam Smith

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Source
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
Date
1759
Meaning

Meaning of “What is the reward most proper for encouraging…”

Smith links practical success with habits of industry, prudence, and careful judgment, while treating that success as the characteristic external reward of those traits.

Source context

Where does it come from?

The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Part III; Smith asks what rewards ordinarily encourage industry, prudence, truth, justice, and humanity.

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Ideas connected with this quotation

BusinessCalmDiscipline Quotes About Habits, Practice & ConsistencyEffortHard WorkInspirational Quotes About Hope, Courage & PossibilityMotivational Quotes for Action, Effort & PersistencePatiencePeacePhilosophyProductivityResponsibilitySelf-Control Quotes About Restraint & JudgmentSuccessThought-Provoking Quotes That Invite ReflectionEntrepreneurMotivation For WorkWork Ethic
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Drive thy business, or it will drive thee.
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“Drive thy business, or it will drive thee.”

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I would concentrate upon the manufacture of iron and steel and be master in that.
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“I would concentrate upon the manufacture of iron and steel and be master in that.”

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Source details

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Ambition, energy, industry, perseverance, are indispensable requisites for success in business.
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“Ambition, energy, industry, perseverance, are indispensable requisites for success in business.”

P. T. Barnum · The Art of Money Getting · 1880
Meaning & context

The sentence presents business success as a compound result of sustained energy and persistence rather than a single clever idea or fortunate moment.

Source details

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The master-word is Work
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“The master-word is Work”

William Osler · The Master-Word in Medicine · 1903
Meaning & context

Osler makes sustained work the organizing principle of his address to medical students, emphasizing disciplined practice over brilliance without application.

Source details

The Master-Word in Medicine, address delivered October 1, 1903 at the opening of the new buildings of the University of Toronto Medical Faculty; reviewed against the represented 1903 John Murphy pamphlet, Internet Archive identifier b28060805. ‘The master-word is Work’ is Osler’s organizing refrain and is followed by his appeal to write the word on the heart and forehead. This remains historical professional rhetoric rather than an endorsement of unsafe working hours or workaholism.

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