the nature of rent-第11章

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is；　in　fact；　the　cost　of　producing　labour。　The　supply　cannot

proceed；　if　it　be　not　paid；　and　though　there　will　always　be　a

little　latitude；　owing　to　some　variations　of　industry　and　habits；

and　the　distance　of　time　between　the　encouragement　to　population

and　the　period　of　the　results　appearing　in　the　markets：　yet　it　is

a　still　greater　error；　to　suppose　the　price　of　labour　unconnected

with　the　price　of　corn；　than　to　suppose　that　the　price　of　corn

immediately　and　completely　regulates　it。　Corn　and　labour　rarely

march　quite　abreast；　but　there　is　an　obvious　limit；　beyond　which

they　cannot　be　separated。　With　regard　to　the　unusual　exertions

made　by　the　labouring　classes　in　periods　of　dearness；　which

produce　the　fall　of　wages　noticed　in　the　evidence；　they　are　most

meritorious　in　the　individuals；　and　certainly　favour　the　growth

of　capital。　But　no　man　of　humanity　could　wish　to　see　them

constant　and　unremitted。　They　are　most　admirable　as　a　temporary

relief；　but　if　they　were　constantly　in　action；　effects　of　a

similar　kind　would　result　from　them；　as　from　the　population　of　a

country　being　pushed　to　the　very　extreme　limits　of　its　food。

There　would　be　no　resources　in　a　scarcity。　I　own　I　do　not　see；

with　pleasure；　the　great　extension　of　the　practice　of　task　work。

To　work　really　hard　during　twelve　or　fourteen　hours　in　the　day；

for　any　length　of　time；　is　too　much　for　a　human　being。　Some

intervals　of　ease　are　necessary　to　health　and　happiness：　and　the

occasional　abuse　of　such　intervals　is　no　valid　argument　against

their　use。



18。　I　have　hinted　before；　in　a　note；　that　profits　may；　without

impropriety；　be　called　a　surplus。　But；　whether　surplus　or　not；

they　are　the　most　important　source　of　wealth；　as　they　are；　beyond

all　question；　the　main　source　of　accumulation。



19。　Adam　Smith　notices　the　bad　effects　of　high　profits　on　the

habits　of　the　capitalist。　They　may　perhaps　sometimes　occasion

extravagance；　but　generally；　I　should　say；　that　extravagant

habits　were　a　more　frequent　cause　of　a　scarcity　of　capital　and

high　profits；　than　high　profits　of　extravagant　habits。







End