[Sethomas]

I guess what with my Catholic indoctrination and all, I'd rather see the masses live well than see the elite live long. Compassion without intelligence begets simplicity, but harmony. Intelligence without compassion begets a hierarchy of exploitation.

I honestly think that Adam Smith had all the best intentions in the world with his economic work (see his Theory of Moral Sentiments for evidence), and that he genuinely thought that rational self-interest would lead to a growth in "universal opulence". The gist of Wealth of Nations is that people can act as greedily as they want, but as long as there is a competent social structure behind the economy it will only lead to improvement. He was rightfully wrong in that there's no way he could have predicted "Working-Class Manchester".

So, if he was right, intelligence would be better because it's what actually accomplishes shit. But, history has proven that it tends to only worsen matters.