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William Stanley Jevons Quotes

Economist

William Stanley Jevons was a British economist born on September 1, 1835, and died on August 13, 1882. He was a pioneer in the theory of marginal utility and had a profound impact on the development of economics.

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Famous William Stanley Jevons Quotes

“One of the most important axioms is, that as the quantity of any commodity, for instance, plain food, which a man has to consume, increases, so the utility or benefit derived from the last portion used decreases in degree. The decrease in enjoyment between the beginning and the end of a meal may be taken as an example.”

Men May Important Ends Lasts Used Taken Example Degrees Benefits Increase Instance Meals Enjoyment Portions Quantity Commodity Utility Decrease Axioms

Book:Papers and correspondence of William Stanley Jevons

Source: Papers and correspondence of William Stanley Jevons

“The laws of thought are natural laws with which we have no power to interfere, and which are of course not to be in any way confused with the artificial laws of a country, which are invented by men and can be altered by them. Every science is occupied in detecting and describing the natural laws which are inflexibly observed by the objects treated in the Science.”

Men Way Country Law Courses Natural Objects Treated Confused Artificial Interfere Describing Altered Natural Law

Book:Elementary lessons in logic

Source: Elementary lessons in logic

“The calculus of utility aims at supplying the ordinary wants of man at the least cost of labour.”

Men Want Cost Ordinary Aim Labour Utility Calculus

Book:The Theory of Political Economy

Source: The Theory of Political Economy

“An isolated man like Alexander Selkirk might feel the benefit of a stock of provisions, tools and other means of facilitating industry, although cut off from traffic, with other men.”

Men Feels Mean Might Cutting Industry Benefits Tools Isolated Traffic Provision

Book:The Theory of Political Economy

Source: The Theory of Political Economy

“I protest against deference to any man, whether John Stuart Mill, or Adam Smith, or Aristotle, being allowed to check inquiry. Our science has become far too much a stagnant one, in which opinions rather than experience and reason are appealed to.”

Men Reason Opinion Too Much Checks Protest Adam Inquiry Mills Stagnant Deference

Book:The Theory of Political Economy

Source: The Theory of Political Economy

“You will perceive that economy, scientifically speaking, is a very contracted science; it is in fact a sort of vague mathematics which calculates the causes and effects of man's industry, and shows how it may be best applied.”

Men May Facts Shows Causes Economy Effects Industry Mathematics Perceive Vague Cause And Effect

Book:Letters & Journal of W. Stanley Jevons, Ed

Source: Letters & Journal of W. Stanley Jevons, Ed