# David Hume — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> David Hume in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Hume, Mr. Hume, Hume

**First appearance:** 0001-introduction-and-plan-of-the-work

## Who they are

Philosopher and friend of Smith, cited on economics.

## In the story

### [Editor's Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction)

His Political Discourses on Money and the Balance of Trade (1752) influenced Smith's views on mercantile fallacies.

### [III: Of the Variations in the Proportion Between the Respective Values of That Sort of Produce Which Always Affords Rent, and of That Which Sometimes Does and Sometimes Does Not Afford Rent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-the-variations-in-the-proportion-between-the-respective-values-of-that-sort-of-produce-which-always-affords-rent-and-of-that-which-sometimes-does-and-sometimes-does-not-afford-rent)

Cited for his observation that in Saxon times the fleece was valued at two-fifths of the whole sheep.

### [Different Effects of the Progress of Improvement Upon Three Different Sorts of Rude Produce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/different-effects-of-the-progress-of-improvement-upon-three-different-sorts-of-rude-produce)

Cited for his observation on the value of fleece in Saxon times.

### [Third Sort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/third-sort)

Cited for his observation on the value of fleece in Saxon times.

### [Of Stock Lent at Interest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iv-of-stock-lent-at-interest)

Cited as having fully exposed the fallacy that the increase of gold and silver caused the lowering of interest rates.

### [How the Commerce of the Towns Contributed to the Improvement of the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iv-how-the-commerce-of-the-towns-contributed-to-the-improvement-of-the-country)

Cited as the only writer who noted that commerce and manufactures introduced order and good government.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in editorial notes on population estimates and trade.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/david_hume
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters