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。