# IV: Of the Expense of Supporting the Dignity of the Sovereign explained — The Wealth of Nations

> Chapter companion for The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

## What happens

This chapter discusses the necessary expenses for supporting the dignity of the sovereign, which vary with societal improvement and forms of government. In opulent societies, the sovereign must keep pace with increasing expenditures of different orders, and monarchies require greater splendor than republics.

## Themes in this chapter

### Role of Government

Discusses the necessary public expense for supporting the dignity of the sovereign as part of the state's functions.

### Social Class and Inequality

Highlights the distinction between the sovereign and subjects, and the varying expenses required by different forms of government.

## Character check-ins

### Adam Smith

Author and narrator of the chapter, discussing the expenses of supporting the sovereign's dignity.

## Key lines

> Over and above the expense necessary for enabling the sovereign to perform his several duties, a certain expense is requisite for the support of his dignity.

Beyond the costs needed for the sovereign to carry out his official responsibilities, additional spending is required to maintain his royal status.

_Introduces the concept of dignity as a separate category of public expense._

> In an opulent and improved society, where all the different orders of people are growing every day more expensive in their houses, in their furniture, in their tables, in their dress, and in their equipage; it cannot well be expected that the sovereign should alone hold out against the fashion.

In a wealthy and advanced society, where all social classes are spending more on housing, furnishings, dining, clothing, and carriages, it is unreasonable to expect the sovereign to resist these trends alone.

_Explains the social pressure on the sovereign to match the rising expenditures of the populace._

> As in point of dignity, a monarch is more raised above his subjects than the chief magistrate of any republic is ever supposed to be above his fellow-citizens; so a greater expense is necessary for supporting that higher dignity.

Since a monarch's dignity places him further above his subjects than a republican leader is above fellow citizens, more spending is needed to uphold that greater status.

_Contrasts monarchies and republics in terms of required expenditure for dignity._

## Links

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