第5章

SECT。VIAdistinguishedwriterofthepresentcenturyhasclearlystatedsomeadvantageswhichthecommunityderivesfromthe

introductionofluxury，andwouldfromthenceconclude，thatprivatevicesarepublicbenefits。Hisconclusionwecannot

granthim；norcanweallowthepremises，ifbyluxurybemeantanythinginconsistentwithmorality。Ifinourideaof

luxuryweincludeonlythecomfortsandconveniencesoflife，thenatasteforluxurymustbeproductiveofindustryand

virtue，mustincreasethehappinessofindividuals，andpromotethewelfareofthestate。Ifmenwerecontentedtogonaked，

tolieunderhedges，and，accordingtothefictionofthepoets，tofeedonacorns，therewouldbenonetolabourtillthe

acornswereconsumed。Ingeneraltheindustryofmanbearsproportiontohisrealorimaginarywants。Couldthelandlord

becontentedwiththeproduceofhisnativesoil，hewouldcultivateonlywhatwouldbesufficientfortheconsumptionof

hisfamily；orcouldthelabourerbecontentedwithwhatwasbarelysufficienttosatisfyhishunger，whenhenolongerfelt

thecravingsofhisappetite，hewouldceasetolabour。Butastheirwantsaremultiplied，themasteriswillingtoemploy

moreworkmen，andtheworkmanhimselfisreconciledtoconstantlabour。Therewasatimewhentheinhabitantsof

Europehadneitherrum，brandy，spices，tea，sugar，nortobacco:theynowcovetthese，andthesenewdesireshave

producedneweffortstogratifythem。Therewasatimewhentheyhadneitherlinen，shoes，norstockings；theynowfeelthe

wantofthese，andreceivethemastherewardsofindustry。Butsupposingthat，withthesenewdesires，theycouldobtain

notonlylinen，shoes，andstockings，butspices，spirits，tea，sugar，andtobacco，withoutcareorlabour，what

encouragementwouldtheyhavetoindustry？Bythepresentsystemofourpoorlaws，atleastastheyarenow

administered，thebenefitswhicharisefromluxury，inpromotingindustryamongthelabouringpoor，arelost；andthemost

improvidentmayrestassured，thatheshall，atallevents，sharethesesuperfluitieswiththemostactiveandlaborious；and

thatintimesofscarcityhiswantsshallbethefirstsupplied，andhiscomfortthefirstconsulted。Tobeconsistent，the

legislatureshouldmakethesameprovisionforfarmers，manufacturers，andmerchants；thatincase，bytheirprofusionor

neglecto[business，theyshouldbeinsolvent，theirdebtsmightallbepaid，andthemselves，togetherwiththeirfamilies，

mightbesupportedinthestileandmannertowhichtheyhadbeenaccustomed；alloutoftherevenuesofthestate，orby

specialratestobecollected；notbyvoluntarydonations，butbycompulsivepayments，andnotmerelyfromtheopulent，but

fromthosewhohadthemselvesbeenstrugglingwithpovertyandwant:nay，tobeconsistent，theyshouldpassalawthatnomanshouldreapthefruitofhisindiscretion；or，tobeperfectlyconsistent，theyshouldrepealallpenalstatutes。Hesiod，inhisGeorgics，ordidacticpoemonagriculture，describeswithbeautifulsimplicitytheexcellenteffectsof

emulation，representingtwokindsofstrifeandcontentionamongmen；theoneproductiveofviolence，theotherofpeace，

harmony，andplenty。Theoneisintentonlyuponplunder，whilsttheotherseeingwealthasattendantuponindustry，isinducedtolabour，inordertoobtainthosecomfortswhichthediligentonlycancommand。Thisprinciplehasbeenpervertedbyourlaws；andnowthepersonwhoexcitestheenvyandemulationofthelazyand

improvident，isnotthemanwhobyhisactivityisacquiringaffluence，buttheindolentpoorineveryparish，whobyhis

impudenceandbyhisimportunityhasobtainedthemostampleandthemostunmeritedrelief。Thisourpoethasdescribed

asthenaturalemulationamongbeggars。

SECT。VIIItseemstobealawofnature，thatthepoorshouldbetoacertaindegreeimprovident，thattheremayalwaysbesometo

fulfilthemostservile，themostsordid，andthemostignobleofficesinthecommunity。Thestockofhumanhappinessis

therebymuchincreased，whilstthemoredelicatearenotonlyrelievedfromdrudgery，andfreedfromthoseoccasional

employmentswhichwouldmakethemmiserable，butareleftatliberty，withoutinterruption，topursuethosecallingswhich

aresuitedtotheirvariousdispositions，andmostusefultothestate。Asforthelowestofthepoor，bycustomtheyare

reconciledtothemeanestoccupations，tothemostlaboriousworks，andtothemosthazardouspursuits；whilstthehopeof

theirrewardmakesthemchearfulinthemidstofalltheirdangersandtheirtoils。Thefleetsandarmiesofastatewould

soonbeinwantofsoldiersandofsailors，ifsobrietyanddiligenceuniversallyprevailed:forwhatisitbutdistressand

povertywhichcanprevailuponthelowerclassesofthepeopletoencounterallthehorrorswhichawaitthemonthe

tempestuousocean，orinthefieldofbattle？Menwhoareeasyintheircircumstancesarenotamongtheforemostto

engageinaseafaringormilitarylife。Theremustbeadegreeofpressure，andthatwhichisattendedwiththeleastviolence

willbethebest。Whenhungeriseitherfeltorfeared，thedesireofobtainingbreadwill。quietlydisposethemindtoundergo

thegreatesthardships，andwillsweetentheseverestlabours。Thepeasantwithasickleinhishandishappierthantheprinceuponhisthrone。Nowafixed，acertain，andaconstantprovisionforthepoorweakensthisspring；itincreasestheirimprovidence，butdoes

notpromotetheirchearfulcompliancewiththosedemands，whichthecommunityisobligedtomakeonthemostindigent

ofitsmembers；ittendstodestroytheharmonyandbeauty，thesymmetryandorderofthatsystem，whichGodandnature

haveestablishedintheworld。Theimprovidentamongthepoorhavebeenadvancingintheirclaims:theynowbeginto

understandthattheyhavealegalrighttoall。Whenthis，whichhithertohasbeenonlyfelt，shallbeclearlyseen，and

universallyacknowledged，nothingwillremainbuttocastlots，whoamongtheactiveandthevirtuousshallperformthe

vilestofficesfortheindolentandvicious。

SECT。VIIIOurpoorlawsarenotonlyunjust，oppressive，andimpolitic，noramtheymerelybyaccidentinadequatetothepurposefor

whichtheyweredesigned；buttheyproceeduponprincipleswhichborderonabsurdity，asprofessingtoaccomplishthat

which，intheverynatureandconstitutionoftheworld，isimpracticable。Theysay，thatinEnglandnoman，eventhoughby

hisindolence，improvidence，prodigality，andvice，hemayhavebroughthimselftopoverty，shalleversufferwant。Inthe

progressofsociety，itwillbefound，thatsomemustwant；andthentheonlyquestionwillbethis，Whoismostworthyto

suffercoldandhunger，theprodigalortheprovident，theslothfulorthediligent，thevirtuousorthevicious？IntheSouth

Seasthereisanisland，whichfromthefirstdiscovereriscalledJuanFernandez。Inthissequesteredspot，JohnFernando

placedacolonyofgoats，consistingofonemale，attendedbyhisfemale。Thishappycouplefindingpastureinabundance，

couldreadilyobeythefirstcommandment，toincreaseandmultiply，tillinprocessoftimetheyhadreplenishedtheirlittle

island。（10）Inadvancingtothisperiodtheywerestrangerstomiseryandwant，andseemedtogloryintheirnumbers:but

fromthisunhappymomenttheybegantosufferhunger；yetcontinuingforatimetoincreasetheirnumbers，hadtheybeen

enduedwithreason，theymusthaveapprehendedtheextremityoffamine。Inthissituationtheweakestfirstgaveway，and

plentywasagainrestored。Thustheyfluctuatedbetweenhappinessandmisery，andeithersufferedwantorrejoicedin

abundance，accordingastheirnumberswerediminishedorincreased；neveratastay，yetnearlybalancingatalltimestheir

quantityoffood。Thisdegreeofaequipoisewasfromtimetotimedestroyed，eitherbyepidemicaldiseasesorbythearrival

ofsomevesselindistress。Onsuchoccasionstheirnumberswereconsiderablyreduced；buttocompensateforthisalarm，

andtocomfortthemforthelossoftheircompanions，thesurvivorsneverfailedimmediatelytomeetreturningplenty。They

werenolongerinfearoffamine:theyceasedtoregardeachotherwithanevileye；allhadabundance，allwerecontented，

allwerehappy。Thus，whatmighthavebeenconsideredasmisfortunes，provedasourceofcomfort；and，tothematleast，partialevilwasuniversalgood。###第6章WhentheSpaniardsfoundthattheEnglishprivateersresortedtothisislandforprovisions，theyresolvedonthetotal

extirpationofthegoats，andforthispurposetheyputonshoreagreyhounddogandbitch。（11）Theseintheirturnincreased

andmultiplied，inproportiontothequantityoffoodtheymetwith；butinconsequence，astheSpaniardshadforeseen，the

breedofgoatsdiminished。Hadtheybeentotallydestroyed，thedogslikewisemusthaveperished。Butasmanyofthegoats

retiredtothecraggyrocks，wherethedogscouldneverfollowthem，descendingonlyforshortintervalstofeedwithfear

andcircumspectionintherallies，fewofthese，besidesthecarelessandtherash，becameaprey；andnonebutthemost

watchful，strong，andactiveofthedogscouldgetasufficiencyoffood。Thusanewkindofbalancewasestablished。The

weakestofbothspecieswereamongthefirsttopaythedebtofnature；themostactiveandvigorouspreservedtheirlives。

Itisthequantityoffoodwhichregulatesthenumbersofthehumanspecies。Inthewoods，andinthesavagestate，there

canbefewinhabitants；butofthesetherewillbeonlyaproportionablefewtosufferwant。Aslongasfoodisplentythey

willcontinuetoincreaseandmultiply；andeverymanwillhaveabilitytosupporthisfamily，ortorelievehisfriends，in

proportiontohisactivityandstrength。Theweakmustdependupontheprecariousbountyofthestrong；and，sooneror

later，thelazywillbelefttosufferthe，naturalconsequenceoftheirindolence。Shouldtheyintroduceacommunityof

goods，andatthesametimeleaveeverymanatlibertytomarry，theywouldatfirstincreasetheirnumbers，butnotthesum

totaloftheirhappiness，tillbydegrees，allbeingequallyreducedtowantandmisery，theweaklywouldbethefirsttoperish。Toprocureamoreample，certain，andregularsupplyoffood，shouldtheycutdowntheirwoodsandtaketobreeding

cattle，thisplentywouldbeoflongcontinuance；butinprocessoftimeitslimitswouldbefound。Themostactivewould

acquireproperty，wouldhavenumerousflocksandnumerousfamilies；whilsttheindolentwouldeitherstarveorbecome

servantstotherich，andthecommunitywouldcontinuetoenlargetillithadfounditsnaturalbounds，andbalancedthequantityoffood。Shouldtheyproceedtoagriculture，theseboundswouldbemuchextended，andrequireagesbeforethestraitnesswouldbe

feltagain。Inprocessoftimeacompleatdivisionoflabourwouldtakeplace，andtheywouldhavenotonlyhusbandmen，

butartists，manufacturers，andmerchants，moniedmenandgentlemenoflandedproperty，soldiersandmenofletters，with

alltheirservants，toexchangetheirvariouscommoditiesandlaboursfortheproduceofthesoil。Anobleauthor，inthe

northofBritain，isofopinion，that\"anationcanscarcebetoopopulousforhusbandry，asagriculturehasthesingular

propertyofproducingfoodinproportiontothenumberofconsumers。\"（12）Butisitnotclear，thatwhenallthatisfertilehas

beencultivatedtothehighestpitchofindustry，theprogressmustofnecessitybestopped，andthatwhenthehuman

speciesshallhavemultipliedinproportiontothisincreaseoffood，itcanproceednofurther？Indeed，aswehaveremarked

alreadyofthesavagestate，shouldtheyestablishacommunityofgoods，theirnumbersforatimewouldcertainlyincrease；

butthequantityoffoodnotbeingaugmentedinproportion，andthatwhichhadbeensufficientonlyforagivennumber

beingnowdistributedtotheincreasingmultitude，allwouldhavetoolittle，andtheweaklywouldperishsoonerthanifhe

whotilledthesoilhadbeenlefttoreaptheundividedfruitsofhisindustryandlabour。Nationsmayforatimeincreasetheir

numbersbeyondthedueproportionoftheirfood，buttheywillinthesameproportiondestroytheeaseandcomfortofthe

affluent，and，withoutanypossibleadvantage，giveuniversalitytothatmiseryandwant，whichhadbeenonlypartial。Thecourseofnaturemaybeeasilydisturbed，butmanwillneverbeabletoreverseitslaws。TheearthisnowheremorefertilethanitisinChina，nordoesanycountryaboundsomuchinpeople；yetthecriesof

desertedchildrenprove，thateventheyhavefoundlimitstotheirpopulation。Fewcountrieshavebeenmoreproductive

thanthelandofCanaanwas；alanddescribedasflowingwithmilkandhoney，fertileincorn，andrichinpastures:yeteven

inthelandofCanaantheyhadmanypoor；anditwassaidtothem，butnotinthewayofthreatening，\"thepoorshallnever

ceasefromamongyou。\"（13）Indeeditwasimpossibletheyevershould，becausewhilstmenhaveappetitesandpassions，

whatbutdistressandpovertycanstoptheprogressofpopulation？TheinhabitantsofEuropearesaidtohavedoubledtheir

numberseveryfivehundredyears:fromwhichwemayinferthattheirquantityoffoodhasbeendoubledintheseperiods。

ThroughoutAmerica，forthesamereason，theyhavebeendoubledeveryfive—and—twentyyears；andinsomecolonies，inthespaceoffifteenyears。IfanewandequaldivisionofpropertyweremadeinEngland，wecannotdoubtthatthesameinequalitywhichwenow

observewouldsoontakeplaceagain:theimprovident，thelazy，andthevicious，woulddissipatetheirsubstance；the

prudent，theactive，andthevirtuous，wouldagainincreasetheirwealth。Ifthelegislatureweretomakethisdistribution，the

evilwouldnotbeequaltotheinjusticeofthemeasure:thingswouldsoonreturnintotheirproperchannel，orderand

subordinationwouldbeagainrestored，diligencewouldbeencouraged，andthevirtuouswouldbefed。Butbyestablishing

apermanentcommunityofgoods，andneitherincreasingthequantityoffood，norlimitingthenumberofthosewhoareto

shareit，theydiverttheoccasionalsurplusofnationalwealthfromtheindustrioustothelazy，theyincreasethenumberof

unprofitablecitizens，andsowtheseedsofmiseryforthewholecommunity；increasingthegeneraldistress，andcausingmoretodieforwant，thanifpovertyhadbeenlefttofinditsproperchannel。Itiswellknownthatourcommons，withoutstint，starveallourcattle。Hereweclearlyseethenaturaleffectsofthat

communityofgoods，whichthepoorlawswouldrenderuniversal。IntheinfancyoftheChristianchurch，thisexperiment

wasfairlytried；butevenwhilsttheApostles，blestwithaperfectknowledgeofthehumanheart，wereyetalive，itwas

foundtobeintolerable。WehaveadopteditinEngland；andwhathasbeentheconsequence？Arepovertyand

wretchednessunknown？orrather，arenotpovertyandwretchednessincreasingdaily，inexactproportionwithourefforts

torestrainthem？OneofthenearestwritersoftheEnglishnation，whounderstoodthissubject，haswellobserved，\"the

sufferingsofthepoorarelessknownthantheirmisdeeds:theystarve，andfreeze，androtamongthemselves；buttheybeg，

andsteal，androbamongtheirbetters。ThereisnotaparishinthelibertyofWestminster，whichdothnotraisethousands

annuallyforthepoor；andthereisnotastreetinthatliberty，whichdothnotswarmalldaywithbeggars，andallnightwith

thieves。\"Hisexpressionisnervous，hisdescriptionanimated；buteventhesimpletruth，whendivestedofallitsornaments，

mustexciteastonishment。Theeffectisstriking；butthecauseofthisphaenomenonwillbeevidenttothoseonlywhocanexamineitwithafixedattention。###第7章ThereisaparishintheWestofEnglandwhichhasneverwantedpoor，andinwhich，exceptingforoneshortperiod，the

poorhaveneverwantedwork；yettheirpovertyandmiseryhaveuniformlyadvancedconstantly，outstrippingallefforts

whichhavebeenmadetoprovidefortheirdistress。Thefarmersatthistimepaytenshillingsinthepoundontheimproved

rents；yetwretchednessseemstohavetakenupitsresidenceineverycottage，andthemostmiserablearetheywhosegains

havebeenthegreatest。

SECT。IXOnthesubjectofpopulationwehavehadwarmdisputes，whilstsomehavelamentedthatournumbersaredecreasing，and

otherswithconfidencehaveboastedthatourpopulationhasrapidlyadvanced；allseemingtobeagreed，thatthewealthof

acountryconsistsinthenumberofitsinhabitants。Whenindustryandfrugalitykeeppacewithpopulation，orratherwhen

populationisonlytheconsequenceofthese，thestrengthandrichesofanationwillbearproportiontothenumberofits

citizens:butwhentheincreaseofpeopleisunnaturalandforced，whenitarisesonlyfromacommunityofgoods，ittends

topovertyandweakness。Inrespecttopopulation，somecountrieswillreachtheirneplusultrasooner，andsomelater，

accordingastheysurmounttheobstacleswhichimpedetheirprogress。Thisperiodcanberetardedbyimprovementsinagriculture，bylivingharderorbyworkingmore，byextensiveconquestsorbyincreasingcommerce。ThecultivationofriceinChinaenabledthemtofeedsomemillionsofpeople，morethancouldhavebeenmaintainedby

anyothergrain；whereasinthehighlandsofScotland，whereneitherricenoryetwheatwillgrow，theinhabitantssoon

becameaburthentothesoil。Theirchiefdependanceforsupportingthepresentpopulationisonfrugality，andconstant，

steady，unremittedlabour，withoutanyhopeofbeingabletoadvancetheirnumbers。Oatmealandwater，withalitfiemilk，

istheircommonfood，andtoprocurethistheyworkaslongastheycansee。Theytillthesoil；theywatchtheircattle；and，attheirleisurehours，theyspinallthelinenandthewoollenwhichtheirfamiliesconsume。TheRomans，evenwhentheyhadlosttheirdomesticindustryandhabitsofeconomy，wereabletofeedtheirincreasing

citizensbytributefromthedistantprovinces，astheSpaniardsdobypurchasingprovisionswiththegoldandsilverofPeru。

TheDutchhavenootherrefugebutingoodgovernment，industry，andcommerce，forwhichtheirsituationismost

favourable。Theirpasturesarerich，butnotsufficienttomaintainhalfthenumberoftheirinhabitants，whoareemployed

andfedbyeverynationuponearth，butresideinHollandfortheconvenienceofthewater—carriage，thesecurityoftheirpersons，andtheprotectionoftheirproperty。Whenacountryissofaradvancedinpopulationastobedistressedforfood；andwhentheforementionedresourceshave

beenexhausted，ithasthenreacheditsutmostlimits；andinsuchacase，againstincreasingwanttherecanbetworemedies

onlywhicharenatural，andoneunnatural:foreithernonemustmarry，buttheywhocanmaintainafamily，orelseallwho

areindistressmustemigrate。Ifthesenaturalremediesarerejected，itcanremainonlyforthepoortoexposetheirchildren

themomenttheyareborn，whichisthehorridpracticeadoptedintherichestcountryuponearthtopreservethe

communityfromfamine。Withregardtocelibacy，wemayobserve，thatwherethingsarelefttoacourseofnature，one

passionregulatesanother，andthestrongerappetiterestrainstheweaker。Thereisanappetite，whichisandshouldbe

urgent，butwhich，iflefttooperatewithoutrestraint，wouldmultiplythehumanspeciesbeforeprovisioncouldbemadefor

theirsupport。Somecheck，somebalanceisthereforeabsolutelyneedful，andhungeristheproperbalance；hunger，notas

directlyfelt，orfearedbytheindividualforhimself，butasforeseenandfearedforhisimmediateoffspring。Wereitnotfor

thistheequilibriumwouldnotbepreservedsonearasitisatpresentintheworld，betweenthenumbersofpeopleandthe

quantityoffood。Variousarethecircumstancestobeobservedindifferentnations，whichtendtoblunttheshaftsofCupid，

oratleasttoquenchthetorchofHymen。InmanypartsofEuropeweseemultitudesofbothsexes，notfrompolicy，but

fromsuperstitionandreligiousprejudice，boundbyirrevocablevowsofchastity。Inotherpartswehearofnumberswho

arecompelledtospendtheirdaysinaseraglio，whereitisnottobeexpectedthatallshouldbeprolific；whilstin

consequenceofthisunjustifiablepractice，acorrespondingnumbermustpassthroughtheworldwithoutleavinga

representativebehindthem。Butineverycountry，atleastonthissidetheAtlanticOcean，wefindasimilareffectfrom

prudence；andwithouttheassistanceofeitheraseraglio，oraconvent，theyoungerbranchesofthebestfamilieshavebeen

lefttowither。Ineverycountrymultitudeswouldmarry，iftheyhadacomfortableprospectforthemselves，andfortheir

children；butifallshouldlistentothiscallofnature，deaftoaloudercall，thewholeworldinafewyearswouldbe

distressedwithfamine。Yet，eveninsuchacase，whenitisimpoliticthatallshouldmarry，thisshouldbewhollyleftto

everyman\'sdiscretion，andtothatbalanceoftheappetiteswhichnaturehasestablished。Butif，notwithstandingthe

restraintsofdistressandpoverty，theywhoarenotabletomaintainafamilywillyetmarry，therecanbenoresourcebutin

emigration。InthehighlandsofScotland，whentheinhabitantsbecameaburthentothesoil，theytriedeverypossible

expedient；and，whenallothersfailed，theiryoungmenwithreluctanceturnedtheirbackuponacountrywhichwasnot

abletosupportthem。Itiswellknownthattheiremigrationsareconsiderable。Theydonotissueforthinassembled

multitudes，likeswarmsfromthenorthernhivesofold；nordothey，likeatorrent，overflowanddesolatetheadjacent

countries；but，likethesilentdew，theydropupontherichestpastures，andwanderingtotheremotestcornersoftheearth

inquestoffood，withtheindustryofbeestheycollecttheirhoneyfromthemostluxuriantflowers。Theseactive，hardy，

andlaboriouspeople，aretobefoundinthetemperate，inthetorrid，andinthefrigidzones，ineveryisland，andonevery

habitablemountainofEurope，Asia，Africa，andAmerica。Yetintheirnativecountrythenumbersneverfail:thesupplyis

constant。Now，if，insteadofcollectingforthemselveswhereverfoodistobefound，thesewanderershadbeenequally

supportedontheirbarrenmountainsbycontributionsfromthemorefertileralliesoftheSouth，canweimaginethatthe

birthsinScoffandwouldbefewerthantheyareatpresent？Theoverflowingsoftheirpopulationmighthavebeen

accelerated，butcouldnottherebyhavebeenretarded。HavingnocontributionsfromtheSouth，theyhavequittedtheir

country，andmaderoomforothers。Wearetold，uponthebestauthority，（14）thatinthehighlandsofScotland，awomanwill

bringtwentychildrenintotheworld，andrearonlytwo。Hadshesufficientfoodformore，morewouldlive。Thewomen

there，likethewomeninallcountries。whicharecometotheirutmostheightofpopulation，aremoreprolificthanthesoil。