government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in abarbarous one

"We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that the one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich. There are many expenses necessary in a civilized country for which there is no occasion in one that is barbarous." 

- Adam Smith, Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue and Arms