"Peu de choses sont requises pour porter un État du plus bas niveau de barbarie au plus haut degré d'opulence si ce n'est la paix des impôts modérés et une administration de la justice tolérable."
— Adam Smith
Simplified Meaning:
It means that for a country to become very wealthy and successful, it doesn't need much besides a few key things. First, the country needs to have peace, so people aren't fighting and can focus on building their lives and businesses. Second, taxes shouldn't be too high, allowing people and companies to keep more of their money to invest in their future. Third, there should be fair laws and justice so everyone feels safe and treated equally. Take Singapore, for example. Once a small, underdeveloped place, it focused on maintaining peace, keeping taxes low, and having fair laws. Over time, it grew into a wealthy and powerful country. If people live in a peaceful place where they don't pay too much tax and trust the legal system, they are more likely to work hard, start businesses, and contribute to the nation's wealth. For an individual, the advice is to seek out or help create a calm, fair, and supportive environment, as it can lead to great success.