"All is more or less proper to serve as a common measure, in proportion as it is more or less in general use, of a more similar quality, and more easy to be divided into aliquot parts. All is more or less applicable for the purpose of a general pledge of exchange, in proportion as it is less susceptible of decay or alteration in quantity or quality."

Source : "Reflections on the Formation and Distribution of Wealth". Book by Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (§ 39), 1766.

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