date

[...?] March[?] 1804 Polit. Economy
[...?] March[?] 1804

Polit. Economy

Sponte acta

{ Ch. 2. Leading Features

' 5. Wealth I. Sponte acta

The national wealth is the sum of the particular masses of the matter of wealth belonging respectively to the several individuals of whom the political community - the nation - is composed. Every atom of that matter added by any such individual to his own stock without being taken from that of any other individual is so much added to the stock of national wealth.

To add to his own particular stock and to add in such period of time more than use or otherwise is taken from it in that same portion of time is with a very few exceptions, is the constant aim and occupation of every individual in every civilized nation. Enjoyment is the offspring of wealth; wealth of labour. What men want from government is - not incitement to labour, but security against disturbance: - security to each for his portion of the matter of wealth, while labouring to acquire it or occupied in enjoying it. For the purpose of encreasing wealth, individuals require neither to be forced to labour nor allured. The want of that which is not to be had without labour, is sufficient force: the assurance of being able to enjoy it is sufficient allurement. Leave men to themselves, each man is occupied either in the acquisition of wealth (the instrument of enjoyment) or in some actual enjoyment which in the eyes of the only competent[?] judge, is of more value. If idleness is to be discouraged, it is not because it is the non-acquisition of wealth, but because it is the source of crimes.

Whoever takes upon him to add to national wealth by coercive and thence vexatious measures stands engaged to make out two propositions: 1. that more wealth will be produced by the coercion than would have been without it: 2. that the comfort flowing from the extra wealth thus produced, is more than equivalent to whatever vexation may be found attached to the measure by which it was produced.}

{If Non agenda have been acta, the doing away of these malá acta may form so many additions to the catalogue of Agenda.}
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