An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of

17

Adam Smith

examine, in the same manner, all the different parts of his dress

and household furniture, the coarse linen shirt which he wears

next his skin, the shoes which cover his feet, the bed which he lies

on, and all the different parts which compose it, the kitchen-grate

at which he prepares his victuals, the coals which he makes use of

for that purpose, dug from the bowels of the earth, and brought

to him, perhaps, by a long sea and a long land-carriage, all the

other utensils of his kitchen, all the furniture of his table, the knives

and forks, the earthen or pewter plates upon which he serves up

and divides his victuals, the different hands employed in prepar-

ing his bread and his beer, the glass window which lets in the heat

and the light, and keeps out the wind and the rain, with all the

knowledge and art requisite for preparing that beautiful and happy

invention, without which these northern parts of the world could

scarce have afforded a very comfortable habitation, together with

the tools of all the different workmen employed in producing those

different conveniencies; if we examine, I say, all these things, and

consider what a variety of labour is employed about each of them,

we shall be sensible that, without the assistance and co-operation

of many thousands, the very meanest person in a civilized country

could not be provided, even according to, what we very falsely

imagine, the easy and simple manner in which he is commonly

accommodated. Compared, indeed, with the more extravagant

luxury of the great, his accommodation must no doubt appear

extremely simple and easy; and yet it may be true, perhaps, that

the accommodation of an European prince does not always so

much exceed that of an industrious and frugal peasant, as the ac-

commodation of the latter exceeds that of many an African king,

the absolute masters of the lives and liberties of ten thousand na-

ked savages.

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18

The Wealth of Nations

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

OF 

OF 

OF 

OF 

OF THE PRINCIPLE 

THE PRINCIPLE 

THE PRINCIPLE 

THE PRINCIPLE 

THE PRINCIPLE WHICH GIVES OC-

WHICH GIVES OC-

WHICH GIVES OC-

WHICH GIVES OC-

WHICH GIVES OC-

CASION 

CASION 

CASION 

CASION 

CASION T

T

T

T

TO 

O 

O 

O 

O THE DIVISION OF L

THE DIVISION OF L

THE DIVISION OF L

THE DIVISION OF L

THE DIVISION OF LABOUR

ABOUR

ABOUR

ABOUR

ABOUR

T

HIS

 

DIVISION

 

OF

 

LABOUR

, from which so many advantages are de-

rived, is not originally the effect of any human wisdom, which

foresees and intends that general opulence to which it gives occa-

sion. It is the necessary, though very slow and gradual, consequence

of a certain propensity in human nature, which has in view no

such extensive utility; the propensity to truck, barter, and exchange

one thing for another.

Whether this propensity be one of those original principles in

human nature, of which no further account can be given, or

whether, as seems more probable, it be the necessary consequence

of the faculties of reason and speech, it belongs not to our present

subject to inquire. It is common to all men, and to be found in no

other race of animals, which seem to know neither this nor any

other species of contracts. Two greyhounds, in running down the

same hare, have sometimes the appearance of acting in some sort

of concert. Each turns her towards his companion, or endeavours

to intercept her when his companion turns her towards himself.

This, however, is not the effect of any contract, but of the acci-

dental concurrence of their passions in the same object at that

particular time. Nobody ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate

exchange of one bone for another with another dog. Nobody ever

saw one animal, by its gestures and natural cries signify to an-

other, this is mine, that yours; I am willing to give this for that.

When an animal wants to obtain something either of a man, or of

another animal, it has no other means of persuasion, but to gain

the favour of those whose service it requires. A puppy fawns upon

its dam, and a spaniel endeavours, by a thousand attractions, to

engage the attention of its master who is at dinner, when it wants

to be fed by him. Man sometimes uses the same arts with his

brethren, and when he has no other means of engaging them to

act according to his inclinations, endeavours by every servile and

fawning attention to obtain their good will. He has not time, how-

ever, to do this upon every occasion. In civilized society he stands

at all times in need of the co-operation and assistance of great

multitudes, while his whole life is scarce sufficient to gain the friend-

ship of a few persons. In almost every other race of animals, each

individual, when it is grown up to maturity, is entirely indepen-

dent, and in its natural state has occasion for the assistance of no

other living creature. But man has almost constant occasion for

the help of his brethren, and it is in vain for him to expect it from

their benevolence only. He will be more likely to prevail if he can

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