The low price of corn, caused by improvements in agriculture, would give a stimulus to population, by increasing profits and encouraging accumulation, which would again raise the price of corn and lower profits. But a larger population could be maintained at the same price of corn, the same profits, and the same rents. Improvements in agriculture may then be said to increase profits, and to lower for a time rents.英文原著 · 《An Essay on Profits》
Though the saving of fuel which will result from the improvements in the forms of CHIMNEY FIRE-PLACES here recommended will be very considerable, yet I hope to be able to show in a future Essay, that still greater savings may be made, and more important advantages derived from the introduction of improvements I shall propose in KITCHEN FIRE-PLACES.英文原著 · 《ESSAYS-1》
Thus therefore I came to perceive that, though gifts in themselves were good, to the thing for which they are designed, to wit, the edification of others; yet empty, and without power to save the soul of him that hath them, if they be ALONE: neither are they, as so, any sign of a man's state to be happy, being only a dispensation of God to some, of whose improvement, or non- improvement, they must when a little love more is over, give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.英文原著 · 《Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners》
Should it be said, then, as perhaps it may, that unless there be profit, and unless there be interest, there will be no motives for accumulation and improvement, I answer that this is a false view, and arises from attributing to capital and saving those effects which result from labour; and that the best means of securing the progressive improvement, both of individuals and of nations, is to do justice, and allow labour to possess and enjoy the whole of its produce.英文原著 · 《Labour Defended against the Claims of Capital》
For, first, what are Order and Progress? Concerning Progress there is no difficulty, or none which is apparent at first sight. When Progress is spoken of as one of the wants of human society, it may be supposed to mean Improvement. That is a tolerably distinct idea. But what is Order? Sometimes it means more, sometimes less, but hardly ever the whole of what human society needs except improvement. In its narrowest acceptation Order means Obedience. A government is said to preserve order if it succeeds in getting itself obeyed.英文原著 · 《Representative Government》
"I have long been impressed with the same sentiments you so well express, of the growing felicity of mankind, from the improvement in philosophy, morals, politics, and even the conveniences of common living, and the invention of new and useful utensils and instruments; so that I have sometimes wished it had been my destiny to be born two or three centuries hence. For invention and improvement are prolific, and beget more of their kind. The present progress is rapid. Many of great importance, now unthought of, will, before that period, be produced."英文原著 · 《The Age of Invention》
How about, "I Thought You Were a Real Man, So You Fuckin' Name It." You got room for improvement.美剧 · 《Billions》
Well, that's a start. Here's an improvement: You scoop up that old man and you sweat him 'til the truth pours out.美剧 · 《Billions》