Keeping accounts, Sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef today, because you have written down what it cost yesterday.

Summary

This quote suggests that there is no point in keeping detailed records and expenditures when a person is spending their own money and doesn't have anyone to answer to. It implies that simply tracking expenses does not result in any practical change or modification in one's spending habits. The example given of not eating less beef today, despite recording its cost yesterday, highlights the futility of maintaining accounts without a practical purpose or accountability.