concerning civil government-第7章
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pounds； and the other possibly not worth a penny； if all the profit an
Indian received from it were to be valued and sold here； at least I
may truly say； not one thousandth。 It is labour； then； which puts
the greatest part of value upon land； without which it would
scarcely be worth anything； it is to that we owe the greatest part
of all its useful products； for all that the straw； bran； bread； of
that acre of wheat； is more worth than the product of an acre of as
good land which lies waste is all the effect of labour。 For it is
not barely the ploughman's pains； the reaper's and thresher's toil；
and the baker's sweat； is to be counted into the bread we eat； the
labour of those who broke the oxen； who digged and wrought the iron
and stones； who felled and framed the timber employed about the
plough； mill； oven； or any other utensils； which are a vast number；
requisite to this corn； from its sowing to its being made bread；
must all be charged on the account of labour； and received as an
effect of that； Nature and the earth furnished only the almost
worthless materials as in themselves。 It would be a strange
catalogue of things that industry provided and made use of about every
loaf of bread before it came to our use if we could trace them；
iron； wood； leather； bark； timber； stone； bricks； coals； lime；
cloth； dyeing…drugs； pitch； tar； masts； ropes； and all the materials
made use of in the ship that brought any of the commodities made use
of by any of the workmen； to any part of the work； all which it
would be almost impossible； at least too long； to reckon up。
44。 From all which it is evident； that though the things of Nature
are given in common； man （by being master of himself； and proprietor
of his own person； and the actions or labour of it） had still in
himself the great foundation of property； and that which made up the
great part of what he applied to the support or comfort of his
being； when invention and arts had improved the conveniences of
life； was perfectly his own； and did not belong in common to others。
45。 Thus labour； in the beginning； gave a right of property；
wherever any one was pleased to employ it； upon what was common； which
remained a long while； the far greater part； and is yet more than
mankind makes use of Men at first； for the most part； contented
themselves with what unassisted Nature offered to their necessities；
and though afterwards； in some parts of the world； where the
increase of people and stock； with the use of money； had made land
scarce； and so of some value； the several communities settled the
bounds of their distinct territories； and； by laws； within themselves；
regulated the properties of the private men of their society； and
so； by compact and agreement； settled the property which labour and
industry began。 And the leagues that have been made between several
states and kingdoms； either expressly or tacitly disowning all claim
and right to the land in the other's possession； have； by common
consent； given up their pretences to their natural common right； which
originally they had to those countries； and so have； by positive
agreement； settled a property amongst themselves； in distinct parts of
the world； yet there are still great tracts of ground to be found；
which the inhabitants thereof； not having joined with the rest of
mankind in the consent of the use of their common money； lie waste；
and are more than the people who dwell on it； do； or can make use
of； and so still lie in common； though this can scarce happen
amongst that part of mankind that have consented to the use of money。
46。 The greatest part of things really useful to the life of man；
and such as the necessity of subsisting made the first commoners of
the world look after… as it doth the Americans now… are generally
things of short duration； such as… if they are not consumed by use…
will decay and perish of themselves。 Gold； silver； and diamonds are
things that fancy or agreement hath put the value on； more than real
use and the necessary support of life。 Now of those good things
which Nature hath provided in common； every one hath a right （as
hath been said） to as much as he could use； and had a property in
all he could effect with his labour； all that his industry could
extend to； to alter from the state Nature had put it in； was his。 He
that gathered a hundred bushels of acorns or apples had thereby a
property in them； they were his goods as soon as gathered。 He was only
to look that he used them before they spoiled； else he took more
than his share； and robbed others。 And； indeed； it was a foolish
thing； as well as dishonest； to hoard up more than he could make use
of If he gave away a part to anybody else； so that it perished not
uselessly in his possession； these he also made use of And if he
also bartered away plums that would have rotted in a week； for nuts
that would last good for his eating a whole year； he did no injury； he
wasted not the common stock； destroyed no part of the portion of goods
that belonged to others； so long as nothing perished uselessly in
his hands。 Again； if he would give his nuts for a piece of metal；
pleased with its colour； or exchange his sheep for shells； or wool for
a sparkling pebble or a diamond； and keep those by him all his life；
he invaded not the right of others； he might heap up as much of
these durable things as he pleased； the exceeding of the bounds of his
just property not lying in the largeness of his possession； but the
perishing of anything uselessly in it。
47。 And thus came in the use of money； some lasting thing that men
might keep without spoiling； and that； by mutual consent； men would
take in exchange for the truly useful but perishable supports of life。
48。 And as different degrees of industry were apt to give men
possessions in different proportions； so this invention of money
gave them the opportunity to continue and enlarge them。 For
supposing an island； separate from all possible commerce with the rest
of the world； wherein there were but a hundred families； but there
were sheep； horses； and cows； with other useful animals； wholesome
fruits； and land enough for corn for a hundred thousand times as many；
but nothing in the island； either because of its commonness or
perishableness； fit to supply the place of money。 What reason could
any one have there to enlarge his possessions beyond the use of his
family； and a plentiful supply to its consumption； either in what
their own industry produced； or they could barter for like perishable；
useful commodities with others？ Where there is not something both
lasting and scarce； and so valuable to be hoarded up； there men will
not be apt to enlarge their possessions of land； were it never so
rich； never so free for them to take。 For I ask； what would a man
value ten thousand or an hundred thousand acres of excellent land；
ready cultivated and well stocked； too； with cattle； in the middle
of the inland parts of America； where he had no hopes of commerce with
other parts of the world； to draw money to him by the sale of the
product？ It would not be worth the enclosing； and we should see him
give up again to the wild common of Nature whatever was more than
would supply the conveniences of life； to be had there for him and his
family。
49。 Thus； in the beginning； all the world was America； and more so
than that is now； for no such thing as money was anywhere known。
Find out something that hath the use and value of money amongst his
neighbours； you shall see the same man will begin presently to enlarge
his possessions。
50。 But； since gold and silver； being little useful to the life of
man； in proportion to food； raiment； and carriage； has its value
only from the consent of men… whereof labour yet makes in great part
the measure… it is plain that the consent of men have agreed to a
disproportionate and unequal possession of the earth… I mean out of
the bounds of society and compact； for in governments the laws
regulate it； they having； by consent； found out and agreed in a way
how a man
