INTRODUCTIONANDPLANOFTHEWORK
THEannuallabourofeverynationisthefundwhichoriginallysuppliesitwithallthenecessariesandconveniencesoflifewhichitannuallyconsumes,andwhichconsistalwayseitherintheimmediateproduceofthatlabour,orinwhatispurchasedwiththatproducefromothernations。
Accordingthereforeasthisproduce,orwhatispurchasedwithit,bearsagreaterorsmallerproportiontothenumberofthosewhoaretoconsumeit,thenationwillbebetterorworsesuppliedwithallthenecessariesandconveniencesforwhichithasoccasion。
Butthisproportionmustineverynationberegulatedbytwodifferentcircumstances;first,bytheskill,dexterity,andjudgmentwithwhichitslabourisgenerallyapplied;and,secondly,bytheproportionbetweenthenumberofthosewhoareemployedinusefullabour,andthatofthosewhoarenotsoemployed。Whateverbethesoil,climate,orextentofterritoryofanyparticularnation,theabundanceorscantinessofitsannualsupplymust,inthatparticularsituation,dependuponthosetwocircumstances。
Theabundanceorscantinessofthissupply,too,seemstodependmoreupontheformerofthosetwocircumstancesthanuponthelatter。Amongthesavagenationsofhuntersandfishers,everyindividualwhoisabletowork,ismoreorlessemployedinusefullabour,andendeavourstoprovide,aswellashecan,thenecessariesandconveniencesoflife,forhimself,orsuchofhisfamilyortribeasareeithertooold,ortooyoung,ortooinfirmtogoahuntingandfishing。Suchnations,however,aresomiserablypoorthat,frommerewant,theyarefrequentlyreduced,or,atleast,thinkthemselvesreduced,tothenecessitysometimesofdirectlydestroying,andsometimesofabandoningtheirinfants,theiroldpeople,andthoseafflictedwithlingeringdiseases,toperishwithhunger,ortobedevouredbywildbeasts。Amongcivilisedandthrivingnations,onthecontrary,thoughagreatnumberofpeopledonotlabouratall,manyofwhomconsumetheproduceoftentimes,frequentlyofahundredtimesmorelabourthanthegreaterpartofthosewhowork;yettheproduceofthewholelabourofthesocietyissogreatthatallareoftenabundantlysupplied,andaworkman,evenofthelowestandpoorestorder,ifheisfrugalandindustrious,mayenjoyagreatershareofthenecessariesandconveniencesoflifethanitispossibleforanysavagetoacquire。
Thecausesofthisimprovement,intheproductivepowersoflabour,andtheorder,accordingtowhichitsproduceisnaturallydistributedamongthedifferentranksandconditionsofmeninthesociety,makethesubjectofthefirstbookofthisInquiry。
Whateverbetheactualstateoftheskill,dexterity,andjudgmentwithwhichlabourisappliedinanynation,theabundanceorscantinessofitsannualsupplymustdepend,duringthecontinuanceofthatstate,upontheproportionbetweenthenumberofthosewhoareannuallyemployedinusefullabour,andthatofthosewhoarenotsoemployed。Thenumberofusefulandproductivelabourers,itwillhereafterappear,iseverywhereinproportiontothequantityofcapitalstockwhichisemployedinsettingthemtowork,andtotheparticularwayinwhichitissoemployed。Thesecondbook,therefore,treatsofthenatureofcapitalstock,ofthemannerinwhichitisgraduallyaccumulated,andofthedifferentquantitiesoflabourwhichitputsintomotion,accordingtothedifferentwaysinwhichitisemployed。
Nationstolerablywelladvancedastoskill,dexterity,andjudgment,intheapplicationoflabour,havefollowedverydifferentplansinthegeneralconductordirectionofit;thoseplanshavenotallbeenequallyfavourabletothegreatnessofitsproduce。Thepolicyofsomenationshasgivenextraordinaryencouragementtotheindustryofthecountry;thatofotherstotheindustryoftowns。Scarceanynationhasdealtequallyandimpartiallywitheverysortofindustry。SincethedownfalloftheRomanempire,thepolicyofEuropehasbeenmorefavourabletoarts,manufactures,andcommerce,theindustryoftowns,thantoagriculture,theindustryofthecountry。Thecircumstanceswhichseemtohaveintroducedandestablishedthispolicyareexplainedinthethirdbook。
Thoughthosedifferentplanswere,perhaps,firstintroducedbytheprivateinterestsandprejudicesofparticularordersofmen,withoutanyregardto,orforesightof,theirconsequencesuponthegeneralwelfareofthesociety;yettheyhavegivenoccasiontoverydifferenttheoriesofpoliticaleconomy;ofwhichsomemagnifytheimportanceofthatindustrywhichiscarriedonintowns,othersofthatwhichiscarriedoninthecountry。Thosetheorieshavehadaconsiderableinfluence,notonlyupontheopinionsofmenoflearning,butuponthepublicconductofprincesandsovereignstates。Ihaveendeavoured,inthefourthbook,toexplain,asfullyanddistinctlyasIcan,thosedifferenttheories,andtheprincipaleffectswhichtheyhaveproducedindifferentagesandnations。
Toexplaininwhathasconsistedtherevenueofthegreatbodyofthepeople,orwhathasbeenthenatureofthosefundswhich,indifferentagesandnations,havesuppliedtheirannualconsumption,istheobjectofthesefourfirstbooks。Thefifthandlastbooktreatsoftherevenueofthesovereign,orcommonwealth。InthisbookIhaveendeavouredtoshow,first,whatarethenecessaryexpensesofthesovereign,orcommonwealth;whichofthoseexpensesoughttobedefrayedbythegeneralcontributionofthewholesociety;andwhichofthembythatofsomeparticularpartonly,orofsomeparticularmembersofit:secondly,whatarethedifferentmethodsinwhichthewholesocietymaybemadetocontributetowardsdefrayingtheexpensesincumbentonthewholesociety,andwhataretheprincipaladvantagesandinconveniencesofeachofthosemethods:
and,thirdlyandlastly,whatarethereasonsandcauseswhichhaveinducedalmostallmoderngovernmentstomortgagesomepartofthisrevenue,ortocontractdebts,andwhathavebeentheeffectsofthosedebtsupontherealwealth,theannualproduceofthelandandlabourofthesociety。
BOOKONE
OFTHECAUSESOFIMPROVEMENTINTHEPRODUCTIVEPOWERS。OFLABOUR,ANDOFTHEORDERACCORDINGTOWHICHITS。PRODUCEISNATURALLY
DISTRIBUTEDAMONGTHEDIFFERENTRANKSOFTHEPEOPLE。
CHAPTERI
OftheDivisionofLabourTHEgreatestimprovementintheproductivepowersoflabour,andthegreaterpartoftheskill,dexterity,andjudgmentwithwhichitisanywheredirected,orapplied,seemtohavebeentheeffectsofthedivisionoflabour。
Theeffectsofthedivisionoflabour,inthegeneralbusinessofsociety,willbemoreeasilyunderstoodbyconsideringinwhatmanneritoperatesinsomeparticularmanufactures。Itiscommonlysupposedtobecarriedfurthestinsomeverytriflingones;notperhapsthatitreallyiscarriedfurtherinthemthaninothersofmoreimportance:butinthosetriflingmanufactureswhicharedestinedtosupplythesmallwantsofbutasmallnumberofpeople,thewholenumberofworkmenmustnecessarilybesmall;andthoseemployedineverydifferentbranchoftheworkcanoftenbecollectedintothesameworkhouse,andplacedatonceundertheviewofthespectator。Inthosegreatmanufactures,onthecontrary,whicharedestinedtosupplythegreatwantsofthegreatbodyofthepeople,everydifferentbranchoftheworkemployssogreatanumberofworkmenthatitisimpossibletocollectthemallintothesameworkhouse。Wecanseldomseemore,atonetime,thanthoseemployedinonesinglebranch。Thoughinsuchmanufactures,therefore,theworkmayreallybedividedintoamuchgreaternumberofpartsthaninthoseofamoretriflingnature,thedivisionisnotnearsoobvious,andhasaccordinglybeenmuchlessobserved。
Totakeanexample,therefore,fromaverytriflingmanufacture;butoneinwhichthedivisionoflabourhasbeenveryoftentakennoticeof,thetradeofthepin—maker;aworkmannoteducatedtothisbusiness(whichthedivisionoflabourhasrenderedadistincttrade),noracquaintedwiththeuseofthemachineryemployedinit(totheinventionofwhichthesamedivisionoflabourhasprobablygivenoccasion),couldscarce,perhaps,withhisutmostindustry,makeonepininaday,andcertainlycouldnotmaketwenty。Butinthewayinwhichthisbusinessisnowcarriedon,notonlythewholeworkisapeculiartrade,butitisdividedintoanumberofbranches,ofwhichthegreaterpartarelikewisepeculiartrades。Onemandrawsoutthewire,anotherstraightsit,athirdcutsit,afourthpointsit,afifthgrindsitatthetopforreceiving,thehead;tomaketheheadrequirestwoorthreedistinctoperations;toputitonisapeculiarbusiness,towhitenthepinsisanother;itisevenatradebyitselftoputthemintothepaper;andtheimportantbusinessofmakingapinis,inthismanner,dividedintoabouteighteendistinctoperations,which,insomemanufactories,areallperformedbydistincthands,thoughinothersthesamemanwillsometimesperformtwoorthreeofthem。Ihaveseenasmallmanufactoryofthiskindwheretenmenonlywereemployed,andwheresomeofthemconsequentlyperformedtwoorthreedistinctoperations。Butthoughtheywereverypoor,andthereforebutindifferentlyaccommodatedwiththenecessarymachinery,theycould,whentheyexertedthemselves,makeamongthemabouttwelvepoundsofpinsinaday。Thereareinapoundupwardsoffourthousandpinsofamiddlingsize。Thosetenpersons,therefore,couldmakeamongthemupwardsofforty—eightthousandpinsinaday。Eachperson,therefore,makingatenthpartofforty—eightthousandpins,mightbeconsideredasmakingfourthousandeighthundredpinsinaday。Butiftheyhadallwroughtseparatelyandindependently,andwithoutanyofthemhavingbeeneducatedtothispeculiarbusiness,theycertainlycouldnoteachofthemhavemadetwenty,perhapsnotonepininaday;thatis,certainly,notthetwohundredandfortieth,perhapsnotthefourthousandeighthundredthpartofwhattheyareatpresentcapableofperforming,inconsequenceofaproperdivisionandcombinationoftheirdifferentoperations。
Ineveryotherartandmanufacture,theeffectsofthedivisionoflabouraresimilartowhattheyareinthisverytriflingone;though,inmanyofthem,thelabourcanneitherbesomuchsubdivided,norreducedtosogreatasimplicityofoperation。Thedivisionoflabour,however,sofarasitcanbeintroduced,occasions,ineveryart,aproportionableincreaseoftheproductivepowersoflabour。Theseparationofdifferenttradesandemploymentsfromoneanotherseemstohavetakenplaceinconsequenceofthisadvantage。Thisseparation,too,isgenerallycalledfurthestinthosecountrieswhichenjoythehighestdegreeofindustryandimprovement;whatistheworkofonemaninarudestateofsocietybeinggenerallythatofseveralinanimprovedone。Ineveryimprovedsociety,thefarmerisgenerallynothingbutafarmer;themanufacturer,nothingbutamanufacturer。Thelabour,too,whichisnecessarytoproduceanyonecompletemanufactureisalmostalwaysdividedamongagreatnumberofhands。Howmanydifferenttradesareemployedineachbranchofthelinenandwoollenmanufacturesfromthegrowersoftheflaxandthewool,tothebleachersandsmoothersofthelinen,ortothedyersanddressersofthecloth!Thenatureofagriculture,indeed,doesnotadmitofsomanysubdivisionsoflabour,norofsocompleteaseparationofonebusinessfromanother,asmanufactures。Itisimpossibletoseparatesoentirelythebusinessofthegrazierfromthatofthecorn—farmerasthetradeofthecarpenteriscommonlyseparatedfromthatofthesmith。Thespinnerisalmostalwaysadistinctpersonfromtheweaver;buttheploughman,theharrower,thesoweroftheseed,andthereaperofthecorn,areoftenthesame。Theoccasionsforthosedifferentsortsoflabourreturningwiththedifferentseasonsoftheyear,itisimpossiblethatonemanshouldbeconstantlyemployedinanyoneofthem。Thisimpossibilityofmakingsocompleteandentireaseparationofallthedifferentbranchesoflabouremployedinagricultureisperhapsthereasonwhytheimprovementoftheproductivepowersoflabourinthisartdoesnotalwayskeeppacewiththeirimprovementinmanufactures。Themostopulentnations,indeed,generallyexcelalltheirneighboursinagricultureaswellasinmanufactures;buttheyarecommonlymoredistinguishedbytheirsuperiorityinthelatterthanintheformer。Theirlandsareingeneralbettercultivated,andhavingmorelabourandexpensebestoweduponthem,producemoreinproportiontotheextentandnaturalfertilityoftheground。Butthissuperiorityofproduceisseldommuchmorethaninproportiontothesuperiorityoflabourandexpense。Inagriculture,thelabouroftherichcountryisnotalwaysmuchmoreproductivethanthatofthepoor;
or,atleast,itisneversomuchmoreproductiveasitcommonlyisinmanufactures。Thecornoftherichcountry,therefore,willnotalways,inthesamedegreeofgoodness,comecheapertomarketthanthatofthepoor。ThecornofPoland,inthesamedegreeofgoodness,isascheapasthatofFrance,notwithstandingthesuperioropulenceandimprovementofthelattercountry。ThecornofFranceis,inthecornprovinces,fullyasgood,andinmostyearsnearlyaboutthesamepricewiththecornofEngland,though,inopulenceandimprovement,FranceisperhapsinferiortoEngland。Thecorn—landsofEngland,however,arebettercultivatedthanthoseofFrance,andthecorn—landsofFrancearesaidtobemuchbettercultivatedthanthoseofPoland。Butthoughthepoorcountry,notwithstandingtheinferiorityofitscultivation,can,insomemeasure,rivaltherichinthecheapnessandgoodnessofitscorn,itcanpretendtonosuchcompetitioninitsmanufactures;atleastifthosemanufacturessuitthesoil,climate,andsituationoftherichcountry。ThesilksofFrancearebetterandcheaperthanthoseofEngland,becausethesilkmanufacture,atleastunderthepresenthighdutiesupontheimportationofrawsilk,doesnotsowellsuittheclimateofEnglandasthatofFrance。ButthehardwareandthecoarsewoollensofEnglandarebeyondallcomparisonsuperiortothoseofFrance,andmuchcheapertoointhesamedegreeofgoodness。InPolandtherearesaidtobescarceanymanufacturesofanykind,afewofthosecoarserhouseholdmanufacturesexcepted,withoutwhichnocountrycanwellsubsist。
Thisgreatincreaseofthequantityofworkwhich,inconsequenceofthedivisionoflabour,thesamenumberofpeoplearecapableofperforming,isowingtothreedifferentcircumstances;first,totheincreaseofdexterityineveryparticularworkman;secondly,tothesavingofthetimewhichiscommonlylostinpassingfromonespeciesofworktoanother;andlastly,totheinventionofagreatnumberofmachineswhichfacilitateandabridgelabour,andenableonemantodotheworkofmany。
First,theimprovementofthedexterityoftheworkmannecessarilyincreasesthequantityoftheworkhecanperform;
andthedivisionoflabour,byreducingeveryman’sbusinesstosomeonesimpleoperation,andbymakingthisoperationthesoleemploymentofhislife,necessarilyincreasedverymuchdexterityoftheworkman。Acommonsmith,who,thoughaccustomedtohandlethehammer,hasneverbeenusedtomakenails,ifuponsomeparticularoccasionheisobligedtoattemptit,willscarce,I
amassured,beabletomakeabovetwoorthreehundrednailsinaday,andthosetooverybadones。Asmithwhohasbeenaccustomedtomakenails,butwhosesoleorprincipalbusinesshasnotbeenthatofanailer,canseldomwithhisutmostdiligencemakemorethaneighthundredorathousandnailsinaday。Ihaveseenseveralboysundertwentyyearsofagewhohadneverexercisedanyothertradebutthatofmakingnails,andwho,whentheyexertedthemselves,couldmake,eachofthem,upwardsoftwothousandthreehundrednailsinaday。Themakingofanail,however,isbynomeansoneofthesimplestoperations。Thesamepersonblowsthebellows,stirsormendsthefireasthereisoccasion,heatstheiron,andforgeseverypartofthenail:inforgingtheheadtooheisobligedtochangehistools。Thedifferentoperationsintowhichthemakingofapin,orofametalbutton,issubdivided,areallofthemmuchmoresimple,andthedexterityoftheperson,ofwhoselifeithasbeenthesolebusinesstoperformthem,isusuallymuchgreater。Therapiditywithwhichsomeoftheoperationsofthosemanufacturersareperformed,exceedswhatthehumanhandcould,bythosewhohadneverseenthem,besupposedcapableofacquiring。
Secondly,theadvantagewhichisgainedbysavingthetimecommonlylostinpassingfromonesortofworktoanotherismuchgreaterthanweshouldatfirstviewbeapttoimagineit。Itisimpossibletopassveryquicklyfromonekindofworktoanotherthatiscarriedoninadifferentplaceandwithquitedifferenttools。Acountryweaver,whocultivatesasmallfarm,mustloseagooddealoftimeinpassingfromhisloomtothefield,andfromthefieldtohisloom。Whenthetwotradescanbecarriedoninthesameworkhouse,thelossoftimeisnodoubtmuchless。Itiseveninthiscase,however,veryconsiderable。Amancommonlysauntersalittleinturninghishandfromonesortofemploymenttoanother。Whenhefirstbeginsthenewworkheisseldomverykeenandhearty;hismind,astheysay,doesnotgotoit,andforsometimeherathertriflesthanappliestogoodpurpose。Thehabitofsaunteringandofindolentcarelessapplication,whichisnaturally,orrathernecessarilyacquiredbyeverycountryworkmanwhoisobligedtochangehisworkandhistoolseveryhalfhour,andtoapplyhishandintwentydifferentwaysalmosteverydayofhislife,rendershimalmostalwaysslothfulandlazy,andincapableofanyvigorousapplicationevenonthemostpressingoccasions。Independent,therefore,ofhisdeficiencyinpointofdexterity,thiscausealonemustalwaysreduceconsiderablythequantityofworkwhichheiscapableofperforming。
Thirdly,andlastly,everybodymustbesensiblehowmuchlabourisfacilitatedandabridgedbytheapplicationofpropermachinery。Itisunnecessarytogiveanyexample。Ishallonlyobserve,therefore,thattheinventionofallthosemachinesbywhichlabourissomuchfacilitatedandabridgedseemstohavebeenoriginallyowingtothedivisionoflabour。Menaremuchmorelikelytodiscovereasierandreadiermethodsofattaininganyobjectwhenthewholeattentionoftheirmindsisdirectedtowardsthatsingleobjectthanwhenitisdissipatedamongagreatvarietyofthings。Butinconsequenceofthedivisionoflabour,thewholeofeveryman’sattentioncomesnaturallytobedirectedtowardssomeoneverysimpleobject。Itisnaturallytobeexpected,therefore,thatsomeoneorotherofthosewhoareemployedineachparticularbranchoflabourshouldsoonfindouteasierandreadiermethodsofperformingtheirownparticularwork,whereverthenatureofitadmitsofsuchimprovement。A
greatpartofthemachinesmadeuseofinthosemanufacturesinwhichlabourismostsubdivided,wereoriginallytheinventionsofcommonworkmen,who,beingeachofthememployedinsomeverysimpleoperation,naturallyturnedtheirthoughtstowardsfindingouteasierandreadiermethodsofperformingit。Whoeverhasbeenmuchaccustomedtovisitsuchmanufacturesmustfrequentlyhavebeenshownveryprettymachines,whichweretheinventionsofsuchworkmeninordertofacilitateandquickentheirparticularpartofthework。Inthefirstfire—engines,aboywasconstantlyemployedtoopenandshutalternatelythecommunicationbetweentheboilerandthecylinder,accordingasthepistoneitherascendedordescended。Oneofthoseboys,wholovedtoplaywithhiscompanions,observedthat,bytyingastringfromthehandleofthevalvewhichopenedthiscommunicationtoanotherpartofthemachine,thevalvewouldopenandshutwithouthisassistance,andleavehimatlibertytodiverthimselfwithhisplayfellows。Oneofthegreatestimprovementsthathasbeenmadeuponthismachine,sinceitwasfirstinvented,wasinthismannerthediscoveryofaboywhowantedtosavehisownlabour。
Alltheimprovementsinmachinery,however,havebynomeansbeentheinventionsofthosewhohadoccasiontousethemachines。Manyimprovementshavebeenmadebytheingenuityofthemakersofthemachines,whentomakethembecamethebusinessofapeculiartrade;andsomebythatofthosewhoarecalledphilosophersormenofspeculation,whosetradeitisnottodoanything,buttoobserveeverything;andwho,uponthataccount,areoftencapableofcombiningtogetherthepowersofthemostdistantanddissimilarobjects。Intheprogressofsociety,philosophyorspeculationbecomes,likeeveryotheremployment,theprincipalorsoletradeandoccupationofaparticularclassofcitizens。Likeeveryotheremploymenttoo,itissubdividedintoagreatnumberofdifferentbranches,eachofwhichaffordsoccupationtoapeculiartribeorclassofphilosophers;andthissubdivisionofemploymentinphilosophy,aswellasineveryotherbusiness,improvesdexterity,andsavestime。Eachindividualbecomesmoreexpertinhisownpeculiarbranch,moreworkisdoneuponthewhole,andthequantityofscienceisconsiderablyincreasedbyit。
Itisthegreatmultiplicationoftheproductionsofallthedifferentarts,inconsequenceofthedivisionoflabour,whichoccasions,inawell—governedsociety,thatuniversalopulencewhichextendsitselftothelowestranksofthepeople。Everyworkmanhasagreatquantityofhisownworktodisposeofbeyondwhathehimselfhasoccasionfor;andeveryotherworkmanbeingexactlyinthesamesituation,heisenabledtoexchangeagreatquantityofhisowngoodsforagreatquantity,or,whatcomestothesamething,forthepriceofagreatquantityoftheirs。Hesuppliesthemabundantlywithwhattheyhaveoccasionfor,andtheyaccommodatehimasamplywithwhathehasoccasionfor,andageneralplentydiffusesitselfthroughallthedifferentranksofthesociety。
Observetheaccommodationofthemostcommonartificerorday—labourerinacivilisedandthrivingcountry,andyouwillperceivethatthenumberofpeopleofwhoseindustryapart,thoughbutasmallpart,hasbeenemployedinprocuringhimthisaccommodation,exceedsallcomputation。Thewoollencoat,forexample,whichcoverstheday—labourer,ascoarseandroughasitmayappear,istheproduceofthejointlabourofagreatmultitudeofworkmen。Theshepherd,thesorterofthewool,thewool—comberorcarder,thedyer,thescribbler,thespinner,theweaver,thefuller,thedresser,withmanyothers,mustalljointheirdifferentartsinordertocompleteeventhishomelyproduction。Howmanymerchantsandcarriers,besides,musthavebeenemployedintransportingthematerialsfromsomeofthoseworkmentootherswhooftenliveinaverydistantpartofthecountry!Howmuchcommerceandnavigationinparticular,howmanyship—builders,sailors,sail—makers,rope—makers,musthavebeenemployedinordertobringtogetherthedifferentdrugsmadeuseofbythedyer,whichoftencomefromtheremotestcornersoftheworld!Whatavarietyoflabour,too,isnecessaryinordertoproducethetoolsofthemeanestofthoseworkmen!Tosaynothingofsuchcomplicatedmachinesastheshipofthesailor,themillofthefuller,oreventheloomoftheweaver,letusconsideronlywhatavarietyoflabourisrequisiteinordertoformthatverysimplemachine,theshearswithwhichtheshepherdclipsthewool。Theminer,thebuilderofthefurnaceforsmeltingtheore,thesellerofthetimber,theburnerofthecharcoaltobemadeuseofinthesmelting—house,thebrickmaker,thebrick—layer,theworkmenwhoattendthefurnace,themill—wright,theforger,thesmith,mustallofthemjointheirdifferentartsinordertoproducethem。Werewetoexamine,inthesamemanner,allthedifferentpartsofhisdressandhouseholdfurniture,thecoarselinenshirtwhichhewearsnexthisskin,theshoeswhichcoverhisfeet,thebedwhichhelieson,andallthedifferentpartswhichcomposeit,thekitchen—grateatwhichheprepareshisvictuals,thecoalswhichhemakesuseofforthatpurpose,dugfromthebowelsoftheearth,andbroughttohimperhapsbyalongseaandalonglandcarriage,alltheotherutensilsofhiskitchen,allthefurnitureofhistable,theknivesandforks,theearthenorpewterplatesuponwhichheservesupanddivideshisvictuals,thedifferenthandsemployedinpreparinghisbreadandhisbeer,theglasswindowwhichletsintheheatandthelight,andkeepsoutthewindandtherain,withalltheknowledgeandartrequisiteforpreparingthatbeautifulandhappyinvention,withoutwhichthesenorthernpartsoftheworldcouldscarcehaveaffordedaverycomfortablehabitation,togetherwiththetoolsofallthedifferentworkmenemployedinproducingthosedifferentconveniences;ifweexamine,Isay,allthesethings,andconsiderwhatavarietyoflabourisemployedabouteachofthem,weshallbesensiblethat,withouttheassistanceandco—operationofmanythousands,theverymeanestpersoninacivilisedcountrycouldnotbeprovided,evenaccordingtowhatweveryfalselyimaginetheeasyandsimplemannerinwhichheiscommonlyaccommodated。Compared,indeed,withthemoreextravagantluxuryofthegreat,hisaccommodationmustnodoubtappearextremelysimpleandeasy;andyetitmaybetrue,perhaps,thattheaccommodationofaEuropeanprincedoesnotalwayssomuchexceedthatofanindustriousandfrugalpeasantastheaccommodationofthelatterexceedsthatofmanyanAfricanking,theabsolutemasterofthelivesandlibertiesoftenthousandnakedsavages。
CHAPTERII
OfthePrinciplewhichgivesoccasiontotheDivisionofLabourTHISdivisionoflabour,fromwhichsomanyadvantagesarederived,isnotoriginallytheeffectofanyhumanwisdom,whichforeseesandintendsthatgeneralopulencetowhichitgivesoccasion。Itisthenecessary,thoughveryslowandgradualconsequenceofacertainpropensityinhumannaturewhichhasinviewnosuchextensiveutility;thepropensitytotruck,barter,andexchangeonethingforanother。
Whetherthispropensitybeoneofthoseoriginalprinciplesinhumannatureofwhichnofurtheraccountcanbegiven;orwhether,asseemsmoreprobable,itbethenecessaryconsequenceofthefacultiesofreasonandspeech,itbelongsnottoourpresentsubjecttoinquire。Itiscommontoallmen,andtobefoundinnootherraceofanimals,whichseemtoknowneitherthisnoranyotherspeciesofcontracts。Twogreyhounds,inrunningdownthesamehare,havesometimestheappearanceofactinginsomesortofconcert。Eachturnshertowardshiscompanion,orendeavourstointerceptherwhenhiscompanionturnshertowardshimself。This,however,isnottheeffectofanycontract,butoftheaccidentalconcurrenceoftheirpassionsinthesameobjectatthatparticulartime。Nobodyeversawadogmakeafairanddeliberateexchangeofoneboneforanotherwithanotherdog。Nobodyeversawoneanimalbyitsgesturesandnaturalcriessignifytoanother,thisismine,thatyours;Iamwillingtogivethisforthat。Whenananimalwantstoobtainsomethingeitherofamanorofanotheranimal,ithasnoothermeansofpersuasionbuttogainthefavourofthosewhoseserviceitrequires。Apuppyfawnsuponitsdam,andaspanielendeavoursbyathousandattractionstoengagetheattentionofitsmasterwhoisatdinner,whenitwantstobefedbyhim。Mansometimesusesthesameartswithhisbrethren,andwhenhehasnoothermeansofengagingthemtoactaccordingtohisinclinations,endeavoursbyeveryservileandfawningattentiontoobtaintheirgoodwill。Hehasnottime,however,todothisuponeveryoccasion。Incivilisedsocietyhestandsatalltimesinneedofthecooperationandassistanceofgreatmultitudes,whilehiswholelifeisscarcesufficienttogainthefriendshipofafewpersons。Inalmosteveryotherraceofanimalseachindividual,whenitisgrownuptomaturity,isentirelyindependent,andinitsnaturalstatehasoccasionfortheassistanceofnootherlivingcreature。Butmanhasalmostconstantoccasionforthehelpofhisbrethren,anditisinvainforhimtoexpectitfromtheirbenevolenceonly。Hewillbemorelikelytoprevailifhecaninteresttheirself—loveinhisfavour,andshowthemthatitisfortheirownadvantagetodoforhimwhatherequiresofthem。Whoeverofferstoanotherabargainofanykind,proposestodothis。GivemethatwhichIwant,andyoushallhavethiswhichyouwant,isthemeaningofeverysuchoffer;anditisinthismannerthatweobtainfromoneanotherthefargreaterpartofthosegoodofficeswhichwestandinneedof。Itisnotfromthebenevolenceofthebutcher,thebrewer,orthebakerthatweexpectourdinner,butfromtheirregardtotheirowninterest。
Weaddressourselves,nottotheirhumanitybuttotheirself—love,andnevertalktothemofourownnecessitiesbutoftheiradvantages。Nobodybutabeggarchoosestodependchieflyuponthebenevolenceofhisfellow—citizens。Evenabeggardoesnotdependuponitentirely。Thecharityofwell—disposedpeople,indeed,supplieshimwiththewholefundofhissubsistence。Butthoughthisprincipleultimatelyprovideshimwithallthenecessariesoflifewhichhehasoccasionfor,itneitherdoesnorcanprovidehimwiththemashehasoccasionforthem。Thegreaterpartofhisoccasionalwantsaresuppliedinthesamemannerasthoseofotherpeople,bytreaty,bybarter,andbypurchase。Withthemoneywhichonemangiveshimhepurchasesfood。Theoldclotheswhichanotherbestowsuponhimheexchangesforotheroldclotheswhichsuithimbetter,orforlodging,orforfood,orformoney,withwhichhecanbuyeitherfood,clothes,orlodging,ashehasoccasion。
Asitisbytreaty,bybarter,andbypurchasethatweobtainfromoneanotherthegreaterpartofthosemutualgoodofficeswhichwestandinneedof,soitisthissametruckingdispositionwhichoriginallygivesoccasiontothedivisionoflabour。Inatribeofhuntersorshepherdsaparticularpersonmakesbowsandarrows,forexample,withmorereadinessanddexteritythananyother。Hefrequentlyexchangesthemforcattleorforvenisonwithhiscompanions;andhefindsatlastthathecaninthismannergetmorecattleandvenisonthanifhehimselfwenttothefieldtocatchthem。Fromaregardtohisowninterest,therefore,themakingofbowsandarrowsgrowstobehischiefbusiness,andhebecomesasortofarmourer。Anotherexcelsinmakingtheframesandcoversoftheirlittlehutsormovablehouses。Heisaccustomedtobeofuseinthiswaytohisneighbours,whorewardhiminthesamemannerwithcattleandwithvenison,tillatlasthefindsithisinteresttodedicatehimselfentirelytothisemployment,andtobecomeasortofhouse—carpenter。Inthesamemannerathirdbecomesasmithorabrazier,afourthatannerordresserofhidesorskins,theprincipalpartofthenothingofsavages。Andthusthecertaintyofbeingabletoexchangeallthatsurpluspartoftheproduceofhisownlabour,whichisoverandabovehisownconsumption,forsuchpartsoftheproduceofothermen’slabourashemayhaveoccasionfor,encourageseverymantoapplyhimselftoaparticularoccupation,andtocultivateandbringtoperfectionwhatevertalentorgeniushemaypossessforthatparticularspeciesofbusiness。
Thedifferenceofnaturaltalentsindifferentmenis,inreality,muchlessthanweareawareof;andtheverydifferentgeniuswhichappearstodistinguishmenofdifferentprofessions,whengrownuptomaturity,isnotuponmanyoccasionssomuchthecauseastheeffectofthedivisionoflabour。Thedifferencebetweenthemostdissimilarcharacters,betweenaphilosopherandacommonstreetporter,forexample,seemstoarisenotsomuchfromnatureasfromhabit,custom,andeducation。Whentheycameintotheworld,andforthefirstsixoreightyearsoftheirexistence,theywereperhapsverymuchalike,andneithertheirparentsnorplayfellowscouldperceiveanyremarkabledifference。
Aboutthatage,orsoonafter,theycometobeemployedinverydifferentoccupations。Thedifferenceoftalentscomesthentobetakennoticeof,andwidensbydegrees,tillatlastthevanityofthephilosopheriswillingtoacknowledgescarceanyresemblance。Butwithoutthedispositiontotruck,barter,andexchange,everymanmusthaveprocuredtohimselfeverynecessaryandconveniencyoflifewhichhewanted。Allmusthavehadthesamedutiestoperform,andthesameworktodo,andtherecouldhavebeennosuchdifferenceofemploymentascouldalonegiveoccasiontoanygreatdifferenceoftalents。
Asitisthisdispositionwhichformsthatdifferenceoftalents,soremarkableamongmenofdifferentprofessions,soitisthissamedispositionwhichrendersthatdifferenceuseful。
Manytribesofanimalsacknowledgedtobeallofthesamespeciesderivefromnatureamuchmoreremarkabledistinctionofgenius,thanwhat,antecedenttocustomandeducation,appearstotakeplaceamongmen。Bynatureaphilosopherisnotingeniusanddispositionhalfsodifferentfromastreetporter,asamastiffisfromagreyhound,oragreyhoundfromaspaniel,orthislastfromashepherd’sdog。Thosedifferenttribesofanimals,however,thoughallofthesamespecies,areofscarceanyusetooneanother。Thestrengthofthemastiffisnot,intheleast,supportedeitherbytheswiftnessofthegreyhound,orbythesagacityofthespaniel,orbythedocilityoftheshepherd’sdog。Theeffectsofthosedifferentgeniusesandtalents,forwantofthepowerordispositiontobarterandexchange,cannotbebroughtintoacommonstock,anddonotintheleastcontributetothebetteraccommodationindconveniencyofthespecies。Eachanimalisstillobligedtosupportanddefenditself,separatelyandindependently,andderivesnosortofadvantagefromthatvarietyoftalentswithwhichnaturehasdistinguisheditsfellows。Amongmen,onthecontrary,themostdissimilargeniusesareofusetooneanother;thedifferentproducesoftheirrespectivetalents,bythegeneraldispositiontotruck,barter,andexchange,beingbrought,asitwere,intoacommonstock,whereeverymanmaypurchasewhateverpartoftheproduceofothermen’stalentshehasoccasionfor。
CHAPTERIII
ThattheDivisionofLabourislimitedbytheExtentoftheMarketASitisthepowerofexchangingthatgivesoccasiontothedivisionoflabour,sotheextentofthisdivisionmustalwaysbelimitedbytheextentofthatpower,or,inotherwords,bytheextentofthemarket。Whenthemarketisverysmall,nopersoncanhaveanyencouragementtodedicatehimselfentirelytooneemployment,forwantofthepowertoexchangeallthatsurpluspartoftheproduceofhisownlabour,whichisoverandabovehisownconsumption,forsuchpartsoftheproduceofothermen’slabourashehasoccasionfor。
Therearesomesortsofindustry,evenofthelowestkind,whichcanbecarriedonnowherebutinagreattown。Aporter,forexample,canfindemploymentandsubsistenceinnootherplace。Avillageisbymuchtoonarrowasphereforhim;evenanordinarymarkettownisscarcelargeenoughtoaffordhimconstantoccupation。InthelonehousesandverysmallvillageswhicharescatteredaboutinsodesertacountryastheHighlandsofScotland,everyfarmermustbebutcher,bakerandbrewerforhisownfamily。Insuchsituationswecanscarceexpecttofindevenasmith,acarpenter,oramason,withinlessthantwentymilesofanotherofthesametrade。Thescatteredfamiliesthatliveateightortenmilesdistancefromthenearestofthemmustlearntoperformthemselvesagreatnumberoflittlepiecesofwork,forwhich,inmorepopulouscountries,theywouldcallintheassistanceofthoseworkmen。Countryworkmenarealmosteverywhereobligedtoapplythemselvestoallthedifferentbranchesofindustrythathavesomuchaffinitytooneanotherastobeemployedaboutthesamesortofmaterials。Acountrycarpenterdealsineverysortofworkthatismadeofwood:acountrysmithineverysortofworkthatismadeofiron。Theformerisnotonlyacarpenter,butajoiner,acabinet—maker,andevenacarverinwood,aswellasawheel—wright,aplough—wright,acartandwaggonmaker。Theemploymentsofthelatterarestillmorevarious。ItisimpossiblethereshouldbesuchatradeaseventhatofanailerintheremoteandinlandpartsoftheHighlandsofScotland。Suchaworkmanattherateofathousandnailsaday,andthreehundredworkingdaysintheyear,willmakethreehundredthousandnailsintheyear。Butinsuchasituationitwouldbeimpossibletodisposeofonethousand,thatis,ofoneday’sworkintheyear。
Asbymeansofwater—carriageamoreextensivemarketisopenedtoeverysortofindustrythanwhatland—carriagealonecanaffordit,soitisuponthesea—coast,andalongthebanksofnavigablerivers,thatindustryofeverykindnaturallybeginstosubdivideandimproveitself,anditisfrequentlynottillalongtimeafterthatthoseimprovementsextendthemselvestotheinlandpartsofthecountry。