在法国读商学院时，微观经济学的老师给的课后阅读第一篇文章大意就是，真正推动经济进步的，是人的自私，而不是所谓的爱。
亚当 斯密在《国富论》第一卷第二章里这样说：“每天我们需要的食物与饮品，都源自屠夫、酿酒师、面点师的利己心，而非他们的恩典。我们只说能刺激他们利己心的话语，不能说刺激他们利他心的话语。我们只提能给他们带来的好处，不提自己的需求。”
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantages.”
