Carlyle's knowledge of Political Economy
Chris R. Vanden Bossche, Professor of English, University of Notre Dame
Chapter 1, note 6, of the author's 
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Carlyle's knowledge of economic theory should not be underestimated. In the early 1820s, he translated the article on "Political Economy" by Simonde de Sismondi — one of the earliest critics of industrial capitalism — for laissez-faire appeared as early as 1831 when he wrote: "the principle of Laissez-faire is fast verging...to a consummation. Let people go on, each without guidance, each striving only to gain advantage for himself, the result will be this: Each, endeavouring by I competition' to outstrip the others, will endeavour by all arts to manufacture an article (not better) only cheaper and showier than his neighbour" (
Last modified 5 October 2001