亚当·斯密《国富论 》：

Masters are always and everywhere in a sort of tacit, but constant and uniform, combination, not to raise the wages of labour above their actual rate. 

雇主们经常而且是到处保持着一种缄默的心照不宣的联合，使劳动工资不高于其实际工资率。

原文：

We rarely hear, it has been said, of the combinations of masters, though frequently of those of workmen. But whoever imagines, upon this account, that masters rarely combine, is as ignorant of the world as of the subject. Masters are always and everywhere in a sort of tacit, but constant and uniform, combination, not to raise the wages of labour above their actual rate. To violate this combination is everywhere a most unpopular action, and a sort of reproach to a master among his neighbours and equals.

虽然我们常常听说关于工人们的联合，却很少听说关于雇主们的联合。不过，如果谁根据这一点就以为雇主们很少联合，那就是对这个世界以及这个问题太无知了。雇主们经常而且是到处保持着一种缄默的心照不宣的联合，使劳动工资不高于其实际工资率。而违背这种联合在各地都是极不受欢迎的行为，都要受到邻居和同业者的谴责。