Part I, Section II, Chapter II: Of the Love of Praise, and of that of Praise-worthiness; and of the Dread of Blame, and of that of Blame-worthiness
Adam Smith
Smith wrote during the Enlightenment, when progress and accumulation held sway. His question challenges the relentless pursuit of wealth and status. In this age of visible success, Smith suggests true contentment lies in the invisible—health, financial freedom, and moral integrity. The clear conscience is a quietly radical proposition amid the chase for external validation.