On stomachs and brains...........

   "I see two views of humanity.  In the first view people are stomachs.  More people mean more eaters and less for everyone else.  In the second view, people are brains.  More brains mean more ideas and more for everyone else."

"Most importantly, as the rest of the world catches up to the United States both politically and economically, our relative status will inevitably fall.  Their gain, however, is not our loss.  As other countries grow in stature, we need to remember that we benefit when other nations grow rich."

-Alex Tabarrock, Launching the Innovation Renassaisance

Tabarrok also employs a quote from Thomas Jefferson.  It starts:  "He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper from mine, receives light without darkening me."   That quote sounded vaguely familiar.  A quick search turned up this post that puts the entire quote in its context.