Educated, eyes-open optimism pays; pessimism can only offer the empty consolation of being right.

- David Landes

If the gains from trade in commodities are substantial, they are small compared to trade in ideas

- David Landes

This world is divided roughly into three kinds of nations: those that spend lots of money to keep their weight down; those whose people eat to live; …

- David Landes

In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when they are wrong they are positive, a…

- David Landes

Scepticism and refusal of authority is at the heart of scientific endeavour. Scientific knowledge dictates economic possibilities

- David Landes

If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is that culture makes all the difference.

- David Landes

It is the process of evolution which identifies innovative benefits from any source and selects them on merit without prejudice

- David Landes