Note 64 — Chapter I · : THE PHYSIOCRATS

“The settlement of international indebtedness by payment of money is a mere pis aller of foreign trade, adopted by those nations which are unable to give commodities in return for commodities according to custom. And foreign trade itself is a mere pis aller adopted by those nations whose home trade is insufficient to enable them to make the best use of their own productions. It is very strange that anyone should have laid such stress upon a mere pis aller of commerce.” (Quesnay’s Dialogues, p. 175.)