Smith thereupon asks whether these protective measures, by giving an artificial direction to industry, are likely to be of general benefit to society. The first answer is that in business every man seeks his own advantage, that every man knows his own business best, and that “the study of his own advantage naturally, or rather necessarily, leads him to prefer that employment which is most advantageous to society.” Though intending only his own gain, he is “led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.” Indeed the selfish trader—the economic man, if you like—promotes the interest of society far more effectually than those who affect to trade for the public good. Is it not evident that the individual himself, though he may make mistakes, can judge best how and where to employ his own labour or capital? The statesman or lawgiver who attempted to direct private people how to manage their business and spend their money would not only be overloaded with work, but would be assuming an authority “which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever.” From this consideration we pass almost insensibly into the argument from the division of labour. “It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy. The taylor does not attempt to make his own shoes, but buys them of the shoemaker. The shoemaker does not attempt to make his own clothes, but employs a taylor. The farmer attempts to make neither the one nor the other, but employs those different artificers. All of them find it for their interest to employ their whole industry in a way in which they have some advantage over their neighbours, and to purchase with a part of its produce, or what is the same thing, with the price of a part of it, whatever else they have occasion for. “What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom. If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage.”