Transcript
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Unto This Last — M. K. Gandhi. Unto This Last

written by Mohandas K. Gandhi, translated by Valji Govindji Desai

190. Translation !ro" the G#jarati. This is a re$rint o! the edition e%&e$t !or

a !ew verbal alterations s#''ested by "y !riend (hri Verrier )lwin who was

'ood eno#'h to 'o thro#'h the translation at "y re*#est. (ee also theori'inal in G#jarati+ સરદય

ontents

  -ntrod#&tion

  Translators /ote

  To The eader

  -ntrod#&tion

  )ssay - + The oots o! Tr#th

  )ssay -- + The Veins o! ealth

  )ssay --- + )ven23anded 4#sti&e

  )ssay -V+ 5d valore"

  on&l#sion

-ntrod#&tion

 Translators /ote

-n a &ha$ter in his 5#tobio'ra$hy 67art -V, ha$ter 8V--- entitled :The Ma'i&

($ell o! a ;oo< Gandhiji tells #s how he read #s<ins Unto this Last on the

twenty2!o#r ho#rs jo#rney !ro" 4ohannesb#r' to D#rban. The train rea&hedthere in the evenin'. - &o#ld not 'et any slee$ that ni'ht. - deter"ined to

&han'e "y li!e in a&&ordan&e with the ideals o! the boo<. ... - translated it

later into G#jarati, entitlin' it (arvodaya.

(arvodaya is here re2translated into )n'lish, #s<ins win'ed words bein'

retained as !ar as $ossible.

5t the end o! that &ha$ter Gandhiji 'ives #s a s#""ary o! the tea&hin's o!

Unto This Last as he #nderstood it +

1

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1. The 'ood o! the individ#al is &ontained in the 'ood o! all.

=. 5 lawyers wor< has the sa"e val#e as the barbers, as all have the sa"e

ri'ht o! earnin' their livelihood !ro" their wor<.

>. 5 li!e o! labo#r, i.e. the li!e o! the tiller o! the soil and the handi&ra!ts"an

is the li!e worth livin'.

/othin' "ore need be said as re'ards the $ara$hrase o! #s<ins !o#r&ha$ters, b#t Gandhijis &on&l#sion 6$$. ?12??, written as it was in (o#th

5!ri&a lon' be!ore he ret#rned to -ndia in 191@, is $ro$heti& and At to be

treas#red by -ndia !or all ti"e to &o"e. 5nd the last $ara'ra$h o! the

boo<let is a $earl beyond $ri&e.

Valji Govindji Desai

 To The eader

- wo#ld li<e to say to the dili'ent reader o! "y writin's and to others who

are interested in the" that - a" not at all &on&erned with a$$earin' to be

&onsistent. -n "y sear&h a!ter Tr#th - have dis&arded "any ideas and learnt

"any new thin's. Bld as - a" in a'e, - have no !eelin' that - have &eased to

'row inwardly or that "y 'rowth will sto$ at the dissol#tion o! the Cesh.

hat - a" &on&erned with is "y readiness to obey the &all o! Tr#th, "y God,

!ro" "o"ent to "o"ent, and there!ore, when anybody Ands any

in&onsisten&y between any two writin's o! "ine, i! he has still !aith in "y

sanity, he wo#ld do well to &hoose the later o! the two on the sa"e s#bje&t.

M.K.Gandhi

3arijan. =92?2>>. $.=

-ntrod#&tion

=

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7eo$le in the est 'enerally hold that the whole d#ty o! "an is to $ro"ote

the ha$$iness i! the "ajority o! "an<ind, and ha$$iness is s#$$osed to

"ean only $hysi&al ha$$iness and e&ono"i& $ros$erity. -! the laws o!

"orality &ity are bro<en in the &on*#est o! this ha$$iness, it does not "atter

very "#&h. 5'ain, as the obje&t so#'ht to be attained is the ha$$iness o!

the "ajority, esterners do not thin< there is any har" i! this is se&#red by

sa&riA&in' a "inority. The &onse*#en&es o! this line o! thin<in' are writen

lar'e on the !a&e o! )#ro$e.

 This e%&l#sive sear&h !or $hysi&al and e&ono"i& well2bein' $rose&#ted in

disre'ard o! "orality is &ontrary to divine law, as so"e wise "en in the

est have shown. Bne o! these was 4ohn #s<in who &ontends in Unto This

Last that "en &an be ha$$y only i! they obey the "oral law.

e in -ndia are very "#&h 'iven nowadays to an i"itation o! the est. -t is

ne&essary to i"itate the virt#es o! the est, b#t there is no do#bt that

estern standards are o!ten bad, and every one will a'ree that we sho#ld

sh#n all evil thin's.

 The -ndians in (o#th 5!ri&a are red#&ed to a sorry $li'ht. e 'o abroad in

order to "a<e "oney, and in tryin' to 'et ri&h *#i&<, we lose si'ht o!

"orality and !or'et that God will j#d'e all o#r a&ts. (el!2interest absorbs o#r

ener'ies and $aralyes o#r $ower o! dis&ri"ination between 'ood and evil.

 The res#lt is that instead o! 'ainin' anythin', we lose a 'reat deal by

stayin' in !orei'n &o#ntriesE or at least we !ail to derive !#ll beneAt !ro" it.

Morality is an essential in'redient in all the !aiths o! the world, b#t a$art

!ro" reli'ion, o#r &o""onsense indi&ates the ne&essity o! observin' the

"oral law. Bnly by observin' it &an we ho$e to be ha$$y, as #s<in shows in

the !ollowin' $a'es.(o&rates in 7latos 5$olo'y 'ives #s so"e idea o! o#r d#ty as "en. 5nd he

was as 'ood as his word. - !eel that #s<ins Unto This Last is an e%$ansion

o! (o&rates ideasE he tells #s how "en in vario#s wal<s o! li!e sho#ld

behave i! they intend to translate these ideas into a&tion. hat !ollows is

not a translation o! Unto This Last b#t a $ara$hrase, as a translation wo#ld

not be $arti&#larly #se!#l to the readers o! -ndian B$inion. )ven the title has

not been translated b#t $ara$hrased as (arvodaya Fthe wel!are o! all, as

that was what #s<in' ai"ed at in writin' this boo<.

61 Gandhiji had $#blished a s#""ary o! The 5$olo'y in -ndian B$inionbe!ore (arvodaya was written. V.G.D.

)ssay - + The oots o! Tr#th

5"on' the del#sions whi&h at diHerent $eriods have aIi&ted "an<ind,

$erha$s the 'retest 2 &ertainly the least &reditable 2 is "odern e&ono"i&s

based on the idea that an advanta'eo#s &ode o! a&tion "ay be deter"ined

irres$e&tively o! the inC#en&e o! so&ial aHe&tion.

B! &o#rse, as in the &ase o! other del#sions, $oliti&al e&ono"y has a

$la#sible idea at the root o! it. The so&ial aHe&tions, says the e&ono"ist,>

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)ven i! we &onsider "en as a&t#ated by no other "oral inC#en&es than

those whi&h aHe&t rats or swine, it &an never be shown 'enerally either that

the interests o! "aster and labo#rer are ali<e or that they are o$$osedE !or

a&&ordin' to &ir&#"stan&es they "ay be either. -t is indeed the interest o!

both that the wor< sho#ld be ri'htly done and a j#st $ri&e obtained !or it E

b#t in the division o! $roAts, the 'ain o! the one "ay or "ay not be the loss

o! the other. -t is not the "asters interest to $ay wa'es so low as to leave

the "en si&<ly and de$ressed, nor the wor<"ans interest to be $aid hi'h

wa'es i! the s"allness o! the "asters $roAt hinders hi" !ro" &ond#&tin' it

in a sa!e and liberal way. 5 sto<er o#'ht not to desire hi'h $ay i! the

&o"$any is too $oor to <ee$ the en'ine2wheels in re$air.

5ll endeavo#r, there!ore, to ded#&e r#les o! a&tion !ro" balan&e o!

e%$edien&y is in vain. 5nd it is "eant to be in vain. or no h#"an a&tions

ever were intended by the Ma<er o! "en to be '#ided by balan&es o!e%$edien&y b#t by balan&es o! j#sti&e. 3e has there!ore rendered all

endeavo#rs to deter"ine e%$edien&y !#tile !or ever"ore. /o "an &an <now

what will be the #lti"ate res#lt to hi"sel! or others o! any 'iven line o!

&ond#&t. ;#t every "an "ay <now and "ost o! #s do <now what is a j#st

and #nj#st a&t. 5nd all o! #s "ay <now also that the &onse*#en&es o! j#sti&e

will be #lti"ately the best $ossible, both to others and o#rselves, tho#'h we

&an neither say what is best, or how it is li<ely to &o"e abo#t.

- have "eant in the ter" j#sti&e to in&l#de aHe&tion2s#&h aHe&tion as one"an owes to another. 5ll ri'ht relations between "aster and o$erative

#lti"ately de$end on this.

5s an ill#stration let #s &onsider the $osition o! do"esti& servants.

e will s#$$ose that the "aster o! a ho#sehold tries only to 'et as "#&h

wor< o#t o! his servants as he &an, at the rate o! wa'es he 'ives. 3e never

allows the" to be idle E !eeds the" as $oorly and lod'es the" as ill as they

will end#re. -n doin' this, there is no violation on his $art o! what is

&o""only &alled j#sti&e. 3e a'rees with the do"esti& !or his whole ti"e

and servi&e and ta<es the", the li"its o! hardshi$ in treat"ent bein' A%ed

by the $ra&ti&e o! other "asters in the nei'hbo#rhood. -! the servant &an

'et a better $la&e, he is !ree to ta<e one.

 This is the $oliti&o2e&ono"i&al view o! the &ase a&&ordin' to the do&tors o!

that s&ien&e who assert that by this $ro&ed#re the 'reatest avera'e o! wor<

@

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will be obtained !ro" the servant, and there!ore the 'reatest beneAt to the

&o""#nity, and thro#'h the &o""#nity, to the servant hi"sel!.

 That however is not so. -t wo#ld be so i! the servant were an en'ine o! whi&h

the "otive $ower was stea", "a'netis" or so"e s#&h a'ent o! &al&#lable

!or&e. ;#t on the &ontrary he is an en'ine whose "otive $ower is the (o#l.

(o#l !or&e enters into all the e&ono"ists e*#ations witho#t his <nowled'eand !alsiAes every one o! their res#lts.

 The lar'est *#antity o! wor< will not be done by this &#rio#s en'ine !or $ay

or #nder $ress#re. -t will be done when the "otive !or&e, that is to say, the

will or s$irit o! the &reat#re, is bro#'ht to its 'reatest stren'th by its own

$ro$er !#el, na"ely by the aHe&tions.

-t does ha$$en o!ten that i! the "aster is a "an o! sense and ener'y, "#&h

"aterial wor< "ay be done #nder $ress#re E also it does ha$$en o!ten that

i! the "aster is indolent and wea<, a s"all *#antity o! wor<, and that bad,

"ay be $rod#&ed by his servant. ;#t the #niversal law o! the "atter is that,

ass#"in' any 'iven *#antity o! ener'y and sense in "aster and servant,

the 'reatest "aterial res#lt obtainable by the" will be not thro#'h

anta'onis" to ea&h other, b#t thro#'h aHe&tion !or ea&h other.

/or is this one whit less 'enerally tr#e be&a#se ind#l'en&e will be !re*#entlyab#sed, and <indness "et with in'ratit#de. or the servant who, 'ently

treated, is #n'rate!#l, treated #n'ently, will be reven'e!#l E and the "an

who is dishonest to a liberal "aster will be inj#rio#s to an #nj#st "an.

-n any &ase and with any $erson, this #nselAsh treat"ent will $rod#&e the

"ost eHe&tive ret#rn. - a" here &onsiderin' the aHe&tions wholly as a

"otive $owerE not at all as thin's in the"selves desirable or noble. - loo< at

the" si"$ly as an ano"alo#s !or&e, renderin' every one o! the ordinary

e&ono"ists &al&#lations n#'atory. The aHe&tions only be&o"e a tr#e "otive$ower when they i'nore every other "otive and &ondition o! e&ono"i&s.

 Treat the servant <indly with the idea o! t#rnin' his 'ratit#de to a&&o#nt,

and yo# will 'et, as yo# deserve, no 'ratit#de nor any val#e !or yo#r

<indness E b#t treat hi" <indly witho#t any e&ono"i&al $#r$ose, and all

e&ono"i&al $#r$oses will be answered E here as elsewhere whoever will

save his li!e shall lose it, whoso loses it shall And it.

 The ne%t si"$lest e%a"$le o! relation between "aster and o$erative is that

whi&h e%ists between the &o""ander o! a re'i"ent and his "en.

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(#$$osin' the oN&er only desires to a$$ly the r#les o! dis&i$line so as, with

least tro#ble to hi"sel!, to "a<e the re'i"ent "ost eHe&tive, he will not be

able, by any r#les, on this selAsh $rin&i$le, to develo$ the !#ll stren'th o! his

s#bordinates. ;#t i! he has the "ost dire&t $ersonal relations with his "en,

the "ost &are !or their interests, and the "ost val#e !or their lives, he will

develo$ their eHe&tive stren'th, thro#'h their aHe&tion !or his own $erson

and tr#st in his &hara&ter, to a de'ree wholly #nattainable by other "eans.

 This a$$lies "ore strin'ently as the n#"bers &on&erned are lar'er + a

&har'e "ay o!ten be s#&&ess!#l tho#'h the "en disli<e their oN&ers E a

battle has rarely been won, #nless they loved their 'eneral.

5 body o! "en asso&iated !or the $#r$oses o! robbery 6as a 3i'hland &lan in

an&ient ti"es shall be ani"ated by $er!e&t aHe&tion, and every "e"ber o!

it be ready to lay down his li!e !or the li!e !or the li!e o! his &hie!. ;#t a band

o! "en asso&iated !or $#r$ose o! le'al $rod#&tion is #s#ally ani"ated by nos#&h e"otions, and none o! the" is willin' to 'ive his li!e !or the li!e o! his

&hie!. or a servant or a soldier is en'a'ed at a deAnite rate o! wa'es !or a

deAnite $eriod E b#t a wor<"an at a rate o! wa'es variable a&&ordin' to the

de"and !or labo#r, and with the ris< o! bein' at any ti"e thrown o#t o!

e"$loy"ent by &han&es o! trade. /ow as #nder these &onditions no a&tion

o! the aHe&tions &an ta<e $la&e, b#t only an e%$losive a&tion o!

disaHe&tions, two $oints oHer the"selves o! &onsideration in the "atter +

1. 3ow !ar the rate o! wa'es "ay be so re'#lated as not to vary with thede"and !or labo#r E

=. 3ow !ar it is $ossible that bodies o! wor<"en "ay be en'a'ed and

"aintained at s#&h A%ed rate o! wa'es 6whatever the state o! trade "ay

be, witho#t enlar'in' or di"inishin' their n#"ber, so as to 'ive the"

$er"anent interest in the establish"ent with whi&h they are &onne&ted, li<e

that o! the do"esti& servants in an old !a"ily, or an es$rit de &or$s, li<e that

o! the soldiers in a &ra&< re'i"ent.

1. 5 &#rio#s !a&t in the history o! h#"an error is the denial by the e&ono"ist

o! the $ossibility o! so re'#latin' wa'es as not to vary with the de"and !or

labo#r.

e do not sell o#r $ri"e2"inister by D#t&h a#&tion. (i&<, we do not in*#ire

!or a $hysi&ian who ta<es less than a '#inea E liti'io#s, we never thin< o!

red#&in' si%2and2ei'ht$en&e to !o#r2and2si%$en&e E &a#'ht in a shower we

O

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do not &anvass the &ab"en to And one who val#e his drivin' at less than

si%$en&e a "ile.

 The best labo#r always has been, and is, as all labo#r o#'ht to be, $aid by

an invariable standard.

hat P the reader $erha$s answers a"aedly + to $ay 'ood and bad

wor<"an ali<e J

ertainly. o# $ay with e*#al !ee, &ontentedly, the 'ood and bad $rea&hers

6wor<"en #$on yo#r so#l and the 'ood and bad $hysi&ians 6wor<"en #$on

yo#r body E "#&h "ore "ay yo# $ay, &ontentedly, with e*#al !ees, the

'ood and bad wor<"en #$on yo#r ho#se.

/ay, b#t - &hoose "y $hysi&ian, th#s indi&atin' "y sense o! the *#ality o!

their wor<. ;y all "eans &hoose yo#r bri&<layer E that is the $ro$er reward

o! the 'ood wor<"an, to be &hosen. The ri'ht syste" res$e&tin' all labo#r

is, that it sho#ld be $aid at a A%ed rate, b#t the 'ood wor<"an e"$loyed,

and the bad wor<"an #ne"$loyed. The !alse syste" is when the bad

wor<"an is allowed to oHer his wor< at hal!2$ri&e, and either ta<e the $la&e

o! the 'ood or to !or&e hi" by his &o"$etition to wor< !or an inade*#ate

s#".

=. This e*#ality o! wa'es, then, bein' the Arst obje&t towards whi&h we have

to dis&over the road, the se&ond is that o! "aintainin' &onstant n#"bers o!

wor<"en in e"$loy"ent, whatever "ay be the a&&idental de"and !or the

arti&le they $rod#&e.

 The wa'es whi&h enable any wor<"an to live are ne&essarily hi'her i! his

wor< is liable to inter"ission, than i! it is ass#red and &ontin#o#s. -n thelatter &ase he will ta<e low wa'es in the !or" o! a A%ed salary. The $rovision

o! re'#lar labo#r !or the wor<"an is 'ood !or hi" as well as !or his "aster in

the lon' r#n, altho#'h he &annot then "a<e lar'e $roAts or ta<e bi' ris<s or

ind#l'e in 'a"blin'.

 The soldier is ready to lay down his li!e !or his &hie! and there!ore he is held

in 'reater hono#r than an ordinary wor<"an. eally s$ea<in', the soldiers

trade is not slayin', b#t bein' slain in the de!en&e o! others. The reason the

world hono#rs the soldier is, be&a#se he holds his li!e at the servi&e o! the(tate.

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/ot less is the res$e&t we $ay to the lawyer, $hysi&ian and &ler'y"an,

!o#nded #lti"ately on their sel!2sa&riA&e. (et in a j#d'es seat, the lawyer

will strive to j#d'e j#stly, &o"e o! it what "ay. The $hysi&ian will treat his

$atients with &are, no "atter #nder what diN&#lties. The &ler'y"an will

si"ilarly instr#&t his &on're'ation and dire&t it to the ri'ht $ath.

5ll the eN&ient "e"bers o! these so2&alled learned $ro!essions are in $#bli&

esti"ate o! hono#r $re!erred be!ore the head o! a &o""er&ial Ar", as the

"er&hant is $res#"ed to a&t always selAshly. 3is wor< "ay be very

ne&essary to the &o""#nity E b#t the "otive o! it is #nderstood to be wholly

$ersonal. The "er&hants Arst obje&t in all his dealin's "#st be 6the $#bli&

believe to 'et as "#&h !or hi"sel! and leave as little to his &#sto"er as

$ossible. )n!or&in' this #$on hi", by $oliti&al stat#te, as the ne&essary

$rin&i$le o! his a&tion E re&o""endin' it to hi", and the"selves re&i$ro&ally

ado$tin' it, $ro&lai"in' !or law o! the #niverse that a b#yers !#n&tion is to&hea$en, and a sellers to &heat, 2 the $#bli&, nevertheless, invol#ntarily

&onde"n the "an o! &o""er&e !or his &o"$lian&e with their own

state"ent, and sta"$ hi" !or ever as belon'in' to an in!erior 'rade o!

h#"an $ersonality.

 This they "#st 'ive #$ doin'. They will have to dis&over a <ind o! &o""er&e

whi&h is not e%&l#selAsh . Br rather they "#st dis&over that there never was

or &an be any other <ind o! &o""er&e E and that this whi&h they have &alled

&o""er&e was not &o""er&e at all b#t &oenin'. -n tr#e &o""er&e, as intr#e $rea&hin' or tr#e A'htin', it is ne&essary to ad"it the idea o!

o&&asional vol#ntary loss E2that si%$en&es have to be lost, as well as lives,

#nder a sense o! d#ty E that the "ar<et "ay have its "artyrdo"s as well as

the $#l$it E and trade its herois" as well as war.

ive 'reat intelle&t#al $ro!essions e%ist in every &ivilied nation +

 The (oldiers $ro!ession is to de!end it.

 The 7astors to tea&h it.

 The 7hysi&ians to <ee$ it in health.

 The Lawyers to en!or&e j#sti&e in it.

 The Mer&hants to $rovide !or it.

9

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5nd the d#ty o! all these "en is on d#e o&&asion to die !or it. or tr#ly the

"an who does not <now when to die does not <now how to live.

Bbserve, the "er&hants !#n&tion is to $rovide !or the nation. -t is no "ore

his !#n&tion to 'et $roAt !or hi"sel! o#t o! that $rovision than it is a

&ler'y"ans !#n&tion to 'et his sti$end. This sti$end is a ne&essary adj#n&t

b#t not the obje&t o! his li!e i! he be a tr#e &ler'y"an, any "ore than his !ee6or honorari#" is the obje&t o! li!e to a tr#e $hysi&ian. /either is his !ee the

obje&t o! li!e to a tr#e "er&hant. 5ll three, i! tr#e "en, have a wor< to be

done irres$e&tive o! !ee2to be done even at any &ost, or !or *#ite the

&ontrary o! !ee E the $astors !#n&tion bein' to tea&h, the $hysi&ians to heal

and the "er&hants to $rovide. That is to say, he has to a$$ly all his sa'a&ity

and ener'y to the $rod#&in' the thin' he deals in in $er!e&t state and

distrib#tin' it at the &hea$est $ossible $ri&e where it is "ost needed.

5nd be&a#se the $rod#&tion o! any &o""odity involves the a'en&y o! "any

lives and hands, the "er&hant be&o"es in the &o#rse o! his b#siness the

"aster and 'overnor o! lar'e "asses o! "en in a "ore dire&t way than a

"ilitary oN&er or $astor, so that on hi" !alls, in 'reat $art, the res$onsibility

!or the <ind o! li!e they lead E and it be&o"es his d#ty not only to $rod#&e

'oods in the $#rest and &hea$est !or"s, b#t also to "a<e the vario#s

e"$loy"ents involved in the $rod#&tion "ost beneA&ial to the "en

e"$loyed.

5nd as into these two !#n&tions, re*#irin' !or their ri'ht e%er&ise the hi'hest

intelli'en&e as well as $atien&e, <indness and ta&t, the "er&hant is bo#nd to

$#t all his ener'y, so !or their j#st dis&har'e he is bo#nd, as solier or

$hysi&an is to 'ive #$, i! need be, his li!e, in s#&h way as it "ay be

de"anded o! hi".

 Two "ain $oints he has to "aintain E Arst his en'a'e"ent E and se&ondly

the $er!e&tness and $#rity o! the thin' $rovided by hi" E so that rather than

!ail in any en'a'e"ent or &onsent to any deterioration, ad#lteration, or#nj#st or e%orbitant $ri&e o! that whi&h he $rovides, he is bo#nd to "eet

!earlessly any !or" o! distress, $overty or labo#r whi&h "ay thro#'h

"aintenan&e o! these $oints &o"e #$on hi".

5'ain in his oN&e as 'overnor o! the "en e"$loyed by hi", the "er&hant is

invested with a $aternal a#thority and res$onsibility. -n "ost &ases a yo#th

enterin' a &o""er&ial establish"ent is withdrawn alto'ether !ro" ho"e

inC#en&eE his "aster "#st be&o"e his !atherE else he has, !or $ra&ti&al and

&onstant hel$, no !ather at hand. (o that the only "eans whi&h the "asterhas o! doin' j#sti&e to the "en e"$loyed by hi" is to as< hi"sel! sternly

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whether he is dealin' with s#&h s#bordinate as he wo#ld with his own son, i! 

&o"$elled by &ir&#"stan&es to ta<e s#&h a $osition.

(#$$osin' the &a$tain o! a !ri'ate were obli'ed to $la&e his own son in the

$osition o! a &o""on sailor E as he wo#ld then treat his son, he is bo#nd

always to treat every one o! the "en #nder hi". (o also s#$$osin' the

"aster o! a !a&tory were obli'ed to $la&e his own son in the $osition o! anordinary wor<"an E as he wo#ld then treat his son, he is bo#nd always to

treat every one o! his "en. This is the only eHe&tive, tr#e or $ra&ti&al #le

whi&h &an be 'iven in this $oint o! e&ono"i&s.

5nd as the &a$tain o! a shi$ is bo#nd to be the last "an to leave his shi$ in

&ase o! wre&< and to share his last &r#st with the sailors in &ase o! !a"ine,

so the "an#!a&t#rer, in any &o""er&ial &risis, is bo#nd to ta<e the s#Herin'

o! it with his "en, and even to ta<e "ore o! it !or hi"sel! than he allows his

"en to !eel E as a !ather wo#ld in a !a"ine, shi$wre&< or battle, sa&riA&e

hi"sel! !or his son.

5ll this so#nds very stran'eE the only real stran'eness in the "atter bein',

nevertheless, that it sho#ld so so#nd. or all this is tr#e everlastin'ly and

$ra&ti&ally E all other do&trine than this bein' i"$ossible in $ra&ti&e,

&onsistently with any $ro'ressive state o! national li!e E all the li!e whi&h we

now $ossess as a nation showin' itsel! in the denial by a !ew stron' "inds

and !aith!#l hearts o! the e&ono"i& $rin&i$les ta#'ht to o#r "#ltit#des,whi&h $rin&i$les, so !ar as a&&e$ted, lead strai'ht to national destr#&tion.

es$e&tin' the "odes and !or"s o! destr#&tion to whi&h they lead - ho$e to

reason !arther in a !ollowin' $a$er.

)ssay -- + The Veins o! ealth

 The answer whi&h wo#ld be "ade by any ordinary e&ono"ist to the

state"ent in the $re&edin' $a$ers, is in a !ew words as !ollows +

:-t is tr#e that &ertain advanta'es o! a 'eneral nat#re "ay be obtained by

the develo$"ent o! so&ial aHe&tions. ;#t e&ono"ists never ta<e s#&h

advanta'es into &onsideration. B#r s&ien&e is si"$ly the s&ien&e o! 'ettin'

ri&h. (o !ar !ro" bein' !alla&io#s, it is !o#nd by e%$erien&e to be $ra&ti&ally

eHe&tive. 7ersons who !ollow its $re&e$ts do be&o"e ri&h, and $ersons who

disobey the" be&o"e $oor. )very &a$italist o! )#ro$e has a&*#ired his

!ort#ne by !ollowin' the laws o! o#r s&ien&e. -t is vain to brin' !orward tri&<s

o! lo'i& a'ainst the !or&e o! a&&o"$lished !a&ts. )very "an o! b#siness

<nows by e%$erien&e how "oney is "ade and how it is lost.:

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7ardon "e. Men o! b#siness do indeed "a<e "oney, b#t they do not <now i! 

they "a<e it by !air "eans or i! their "oney2"a<in' &ontrib#tes to national

wel!are. They rarely <now the "eanin' o! the word ri&h. 5t least i! they

<now, they do not allow !or the !a&t that it is a relative word, i"$lyin' its

o$$osite $oor as $ositively as the word north i"$lies its o$$osite so#th.

Men write as i! it were $ossible, by !ollowin' &ertain s&ientiA& $re&e$ts, !or

everybody to be ri&h. hereas ri&hes are a $ower li<e that o! ele&tri&ity,

a&tin' only thro#'h ine*#alities or ne'ations o! itsel!. The !or&e o! the'#inea yo# have in yo#r $o&<et de$ends wholly on the de!a#lt o! a '#inea in

yo#r nei'hbo#rs $o&<et. -! he did not want it, it wo#ld be o! no #se to yo# E

the de'ree o! $ower it $ossesses de$ends a&&#rately #$on the need he has

!or it, and the art o! "a<in' yo#rsl! ri&h, in the ordinary "er&antile

e&ono"ists sense, is there!ore e*#ally and ne&essarily the art o! <ee$in'

yo#r nei'hbo#r $oor.

- wish the reader &learly to #nderstand the diHeren&e between the two

e&ono"ies, to whi&h the ter"s, $oliti&al and "er&antile "i'ht beatta&hed.

7oliti&al e&ono"y &onsists in si"$ly the $rod#&tion, $reservation and

distrib#tion, at Attest ti"e and $la&e, o! #se!#l or $leas#rable thin's. The

!ar"er who &#ts his hay at the ri'ht ti"e E the b#ilder who lays 'ood bri&<s

in well2te"$ered "ortar E the ho#sewi!e who ta<es &are o! her !#rnit#re in

the $arlo#r and '#ards a'ainst all waste in her <it&hen are all $oliti&al

e&ono"ists in the tr#e and Anal sense, addin' &ontin#ally to the ri&hes and

well2bein' o! the nation to whi&h they belon'.

;#t "er&antile e&ono"y si'niAes the a&&#"#lation in the hands o!

individ#als, o! le'al &lai" #$on, or $ower over, the labo#r o! others E every

s#&h &lai" i"$lyin' $re&isely as "#&h $overty or debt on one side as it

i"$lies ri&hes or ri'ht on the other.

 The idea o! ri&hes a"on' a&tive "en in &ivilied nations 'enerally re!ers tos#&h &o""er&ial wealth E and in esti"atin' their $ossessions, they rather

&al&#late the val#e o! their horses and Aelds by the n#"ber o! '#ineas they

&o#ld 'et !or the", than the val#e o! their '#ineas by the n#"ber o! horses

and Aelds they &o#ld b#y with the".

eal $ro$erty is o! little #se to its owner, #nless to'ether with it he has

&o""er&ial $ower over labo#r. Th#s s#$$ose a "an has a lar'e estate o!

!r#it!#l land with ri&h beds o! 'old in its 'ravelE &o#ntless herds o! &attleE

ho#ses, and 'ardens and storeho#ses E b#t s#$$ose, a!ter all, that he &o#ld'et no servants J -n order that he "ay be able to have servants, so"e one

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in his nei'hbo#rhood "#st be $oor and in want o! his 'old or his &orn.

5ss#"e that no one is in want o! either, and that no servants are to be had.

3e "#st there!ore ba<e his own bread, "a<e his own &lothes, $lo#'h his

own 'ro#nd and she$herd his own Co&<s. 3is 'old will be as #se!#l to hi" as

any other yellow $ebbles on his estate. 3is stores "#st rot, !or he &annot

&ons#"e the". 3e &an eat no "ore than another "an &o#ld eat, and wear

no "ore than another "an &o#ld wear. 3e "#st lead a li!e o! severe and

&o""on labo#r to $ro&#re even ordinary &o"!orts.

 The "ost &oveto#s o! "an<ind wo#ld, with s"all e%#ltation , - $res#"e ,

a&&e$t ri&hes o! this <ind on these ter"s. hat is really desired, #nder the

na"e o! ri&hes is, essentially, $ower over "en E in its si"$lest sense, the

$ower o! obtainin' !or o#r own advanta'e the labo#r o! servant, trades"an

and artist. 5nd this $ower o! wealth o! &o#rse is 'reater or less in dire&t

$ro$ortion to the $overty o! the "en over who" it is e%er&ised and in

inverse $ro$ortion to the n#"ber o! $ersons who are as ri&h as o#rselves,

and who are ready to 'ive the sa"e $ri&e !or an arti&le o! whi&h the s#$$lyis li"ited. -! the "#si&ian is $oor, he will sin' !or s"all $ay, as lon' as there

is only one $erson who &an $ay hi" E b#t i! there be two or three, he will

sin' !or the one who oHers hi" "ost. (o that the art o! be&o"in' ri&h in

the &o""on sense is not only the art o! a&&#"#latin' "#&h "oney !or

o#rselves b#t also o! &ontrivin' that o#r nei'hbo#rs shall have less. -n

a&&#rate ter"s it is the art o! establishin' the "a%i"#" ine*#ality in o#r

own !avo#r.

 The rash and abs#rd ass#"$tion that s#&h ine*#alities are ne&essarilyadvanta'eo#s lies at the root o! "ost o! the $o$#lar !alla&ies on the s#bje&t

o! e&ono"i&s. or the beneA&ialness o! the ine*#ality de$ends Arst, on the

"ethods by whi&h it was a&&o"$lished and se&ondly, on the $#r$oses to

whi&h it is a$$lied. -ne*#alities o! wealth, #nj#stly established, have

ass#redly inj#red the nation in whi&h they e%ist d#rin' their establish"ent E

and #nj#stly dire&ted, inj#re it yet "ore d#rin' their e%isten&e. ;#t

ine*#alities o! wealth, j#stly established, beneAt the nation in the &o#rse o!

their establish"ent E and nobly #sed, aid it yet "ore by their e%isten&e.

 Th#s the &ir&#lation o! wealth in nation rese"bles that o! the blood in the

nat#ral body. There is one *#i&<ness o! the &#rrent whi&h &o"es o! &heer!#l

e"otion or wholeso"e e%er&ise E and another whi&h &o"es o! sha"e or o!

!ever. There is a C#sh o! the body whi&h is !#ll o! war"th and li!e E and

another whi&h will $ass into $#tre!a&tion.

5'ain even as diseased lo&al deter"ination o! the blood involves de$ression

o! the 'eneral health o! the syste", all "orbid lo&al a&tion o! ri&hes will be!o#nd #lti"ately to involve wea<enin' o! the reso#r&es o! the body $oliti&.

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#nited $ro$erty o! the two "en will be less than it wo#ld have been i! both

had re"ained in health and a&tivity.

;#t the relations in whi&h they stand to ea&h other are also widely altered.

 The si&< "an has not only $led'ed his labo#r !or so"e years, b#t will have

e%ha#sted his share o! the stores, and will be in &onse*#en&e !or so"e ti"e

de$endent on the other !or !ood, !or whi&h he &an only $ay hi" by yet"ore dee$ly $led'in' his own labo#r.

(#$$osin' the written $ro"ises to be held entirely valid, the $erson who

had hitherto wor<ed !or both "i'ht now, i! he &hose, rest alto'ether, and

$ass his ti"e in idleness, not only !or&in' his &o"$anion to redee" all his

$ervio#s $led'es b#t e%a&tin' !ro" hi" $led'es !or !#rther labo#r, to an

arbitrary a"o#nt, !or what !ood he had to advan&e to hi".

 There "i'ht not be the least ille'ality 6in the ordinary sense o! the word in

the arran'e"ent E b#t i! a stran'er arrived on the &oast at this advan&ed

sta'e o! their $oliti&al e&ono"y, he wo#ld And one "an &o""er&ially i&h E

the other &o""er&ially 7oor. 3e wo#ld see, with no s"all s#r$rise, one

$assin' his days in idleness E the other labo#rin' !or both and livin' s$arely,

in the ho$e o! re&overin' his inde$enden&e at so"e distant $eriod.

hat - want the reader to note es$e&ially is the !a&t that the establish"ento! the "er&antile wealth whi&h &onsists in a &lai" #$on labo#r si'niAes a

$oliti&al di"in#tion o! the real wealth whi&h &onsists in s#bstantial

$ossessions.

 Ta<e another e%a"$le, "ore &onsistent with the ordinary &o#rse o! aHairs o!

trade. (#$$ose that three "en, instead o! two, !or"ed the little isolated

re$#bli&, and were obli'ed to se$arate, in order to !ar" diHerent $ie&es o!

land at so"e distan&e !ro" ea&h other + ea&h estate !#rnishin' a distin&t

<ind o! $rod#&e and ea&h in need o! the "aterial raised on the other.(#$$ose that the third "an, in order to save the ti"e o! all three, si"$ly

s#$erintends the trans!eren&e o! &o""odities !ro" one !ar" to the other,

on &ondition o! re&eivin' a share o! every $ar&el o! 'oods &onveyed.

-! this &arrier always brin's to ea&h estate, !ro" the other, what is &hieCy

wanted, at the ri'ht ti"e, the o$erations o! the two !ar"ers will $ros$er,

and the lar'est $ossible res#lt in $rod#&e or wealth will be attained by the

little &o""#nity. ;#t s#$$ose no inter&o#rse between the landowners is

$ossible, e%&e$t thro#'h the travellin' a'ent E and that a!ter a ti"e, this

a'ent <ee$s ba&< the arti&les with whi&h he has been entr#sted #ntil there1@

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&o"es a $eriod o! e%tre"e ne&essity !or the", on one side or other, and

then e%a&ts in e%&han'e !or the" all that the distressed !ar"er &an share

other <inds o! $rod#&e E it is easy to see that by in'enio#sly wat&hin' his

o$$ort#nities, he "i'ht $ossess hi"sel! o! the 'reater $art o! the s#r$l#s

$rod#&e o! the two estates, and at last, in a year o! s&ar&ity, $#r&hase both

!or hi"sel! and "aintain the !or"er $ro$rietors then&e!orward as his

labo#rers or servants.

 This wo#ld be a &ase o! &o""er&ial wealth a&*#ired on the e%a&test

$rin&i$les o! "odern $oliti&al e&ono"y. ;#t it is &lear in this instan&e also

that the wealth o! the (tate or o! the three "en &onsidered as a so&iety, is

&olle&tively less than it wo#ld have been i! the "er&hant had been &ontent

with j#ster $roAt. The o$erations o! the two !ar"ers have been &ra"$ed to

the #t"ost E the li"itations o! the s#$$ly o! thin's they wanted at &riti&al

ti"es, to'ether with the !ail#re o! &o#ra'e &onse*#ent on the $rolon'ation

o! a str#''le !or "ere e%isten&e, "#st have di"inished the eHe&tive res#lts

o! their labo#r E and the stores a&&#"#lated by the "er&hant will not be o!e*#ivalent val#e to those whi&h, had he been honest, wo#ld have Alled the

'ranaries o! the !ar"ers and his own.

 The *#estion, there!ore, res$e&tin' not only the advanta'e b#t even the

*#antity o! national wealth, resolves itsel! Anally into one o! abstra&t j#sti&e.

 The real val#e o! a&*#ired wealth de$ends on the "oral si'n atta&hed to it,

 j#st as sternly as that o! a "athe"ati&al *#antity de$ends on the

al'ebrai&al si'n atta&hed to it. 5ny 'iven a&&#"#lation o! &o""er&ial

wealth "ay be indi&ative, on the one hand, o! !aith!#l ind#stries, $ro'ressiveener'ies and $rod#&tive in'en#ities E or on the other hand, it "ay be

indi&ative o! "ortal l#%#ry, "er&iless tyranny, r#ino#s &hi&anery.

5nd these are not "erely "oral attrib#tes o! ri&hes, whi&h the see<er o!

ri&hes "ay, i! he &hooses, des$ise E they are literally "aterial attrib#tes o!

ri&hes, de$re&iatin' or e%altin' the "onetary si'niA&ation o! the s#" in

*#estion. Bne "ass o! "oney is the o#t&o"e o! a&tion whi&h has &reated, 2

another, o! a&tion whi&h has annihilated, 2 ten ti"es as "#&h in the

'atherin' o! it.

 There!ore the idea that dire&tions &an be 'iven !or the 'ainin' o! wealth,

irres$e&tively o! the &onsideration o! its "oral so#r&es is $erha$s the "ost

insolently !#tile o! all that ever be'#iled "en thro#'h their vi&es. (o !ar as -

<now, there is not in history re&ord o! anythin' so dis'ra&e!#l to the h#"an

intelle&t as the "odern idea that the &o""er&ial te%t ;#y in the &hea$est

"ar<et and sell in the dearest re$resents an available $rin&i$le o! national

e&ono"y. ;#y in the &hea$est "ar<et J 2 yes E b#t what "ade yo#r "ar<et&hea$ J har&oal "ay be &hea$ a"on' yo#r roo! ti"bers a!ter a Are and

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:These are M 4ewels.:

)ssay --- + )ven23anded 4#sti&e

(o"e &ent#ries be!ore the hristian era, a 4ew "er&hant, re$orted to have

"ade one o! the lar'est !ort#nes o! his ti"e 6held also in re$#te !or "#&h

$ra&ti&al sa'a&ity, le!t a"on' his led'ers so"e 'eneral "a%i"s whi&h havebeen $reserved even to o#r own days. They were held in res$e&t by the

Venetians who $la&ed a stat#e o! the old 4ew on the an'le o! one o! their

$rin&i$al b#ildin's. B! late years these writin's have !allen into disre$#te,

bein' o$$osed to the s$irit o! "odern &o""er&e.

3e says !or instan&e in one $la&e + The 'ettin' o! treas#res by a lyin'

ton'#e is a vanity tossed to and !ro o! the" that see< deathE addin' in

another, with the sa"e "eanin' + Treas#res o! wi&<edness $roAt nothin' E

b#t tr#th delivers !ro" death. ;oth these $assa'es are notable !or theirassertions o! death as the only real iss#e and s#" o! attain"ent by any

#nj#st s&he"e o! wealth. -! we read instead o! lyin' ton'#e, lyin' label,

title, $reten&e or advertise"ent, we shall "ore &learly $er&eive the bearin'

o! these words on "odern b#siness.

5'ain the wise"an says+ 3e that o$$resseth the $oor to in&rease his ri&hes

shall s#rely &o"e to want. 5nd a'ain "ore stron'ly+ ob not the $oor

be&a#se he is $oor E neither o$$ress the aIi&ted in the $la&e o! b#siness.

or God shall s$oil the so#l o! those that s$oiled the".

 This robbin' the $oor be&a#se he is $oor is es$e&ially the "er&antile !or"

o! the!t, &onsistin' in ta<in' advanta'e o! a "ans ne&essities in order to

obtain his labo#r or $ro$erty at a red#&ed $ri&e. The ordinary hi'hway"an

robs the ri&h, b#t the trader robs the $oor.

;#t the two "ost re"ar<able $assa'es are the !ollowin' +

The ri&h and the $oor have "et. God is their "a<er. The ri&h and the $oor

have "et. God is their li'ht.

 They have "et. That is to say, as lon' as the world lasts the a&tion and

&o#ntera&tion o! wealth and $overty is j#st as a$$ointed a law o! the world

as the Cow o! strea" to sea + God is their "a<er. ;#t also this a&tion "ay

be either 'entle and j#st, or &onv#lsive and destr#&tive E it "ay be by ra'e

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o! devo#rin' Cood or by la$se o! servi&eable wave. 5nd whi&h o! these it

shall be, de$ends on both ri&h and $oor <nowin' that God is their li'ht.

 The Cowin' o! strea"s is in one res$e&t a $er!e&t i"a'e o! the a&tion o!

wealth. here the land !alls, the water Cows. (o wealth "#st 'o where it is

re*#ired. ;#t the dis$osition and ad"inistration o! rivers &an be altered by

h#"an !oretho#'ht. hether the strea" shall be a &#rse or a blessin'de$ends #$on "ans labo#r and ad"inistratin' intelli'en&e. or &ent#ries

distri&ts o! the world, ri&h in soil and !avo#red in &li"ate, have lain desert

#nder the ra'e o! their own rivers E not only desert, b#t $la'#e2str#&<. The

strea" whi&h, ri'htly dire&ted, wo#ld have Cowed in so!t irri'ation !ro" Aeld

to Aeld 2 wo#ld have $#riAed the air, 'iven !ood to "an and beast, and

&arried their b#rdens !or the" on its boson 2 now overwhel"s the $lain and

$oisons the wind + its breath $estilen&e, and its wor< !a"ine. -n li<e "anner

h#"an laws &an '#ide the Cow o! wealth. This the leadin' tren&h and

li"itin' "o#nd &an do so thoro#'hly that it shall be&o"e water o! li!e 2 the

ri&hes o! the hand o! wisdo" E or on the &ontrary, by leavin' it to its ownlawless Cow, they "ay "a<e it the last and deadliest o! national $la'#es +

water o! Marah 2 the water whi&h !eeds the roots o! all evil.

 The ne&essity o! these laws o! distrib#tion or restraint is &#rio#sly

overloo<ed in the ordinary e&ono"ists deAnition o! his own s&ien&e. 3e

&alls it the s&ien&e o! 'ettin' ri&h. ;#t there are "any s&ien&es as well as

"any arts o! 'ettin' ri&h.

7oisonin' $eo$le o! lar'e estates was one e"$loyed lar'ely in the "iddle

a'es E ad#lteration o! !ood o! $eo$le o! s"all estates is one e"$loyed

lar'ely now. 5ll these &o"e #nder the 'eneral head o! s&ien&es or arts o!

'ettin' ri&h.

(o the e&ono"ist in &allin' his s&ien&e the s&ien&e o! 'ettin' ri&h "#st

atta&h so"e ideas o! li"itation to its &hara&ter. Let #s ass#"e that he

"eans his s&ien&e to be the s&ien&e o! 'ettin' ri&h by le'al or j#st "eans.-n this deAnition is the word j#st or le'al Anally to stand J or it is $ossible

that $ro&eedin's "ay be le'al whi&h are by no "eans j#st. -! there!ore we

leave at last only the word j#st in that $la&e o! o#r deAnition, it !ollows that

in order to 'row ri&h s&ientiA&ally, we "#st 'row ri&h j#stly E and there!ore

<now what is j#st. -t is the $rivile'e o! the Ashes, as it is o! rats and wolves,

to live by the laws o! de"and and s#$$ly E b#t it is the distin&tion o!

h#"anity to live by those o! ri'ht.

e have to e%a"ine then what are the laws o! j#sti&e res$e&tin' $ay"ent o! labo#r.

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Money $ay"ent, as stated in "y last $a$er, &onsists redi&ally in a $ro"ise

to so"e $erson wor<in' !or #s, that !or the ti"e and labo#r he s$ends in o#r

servi&e today we will 'ive or $ro&#re e*#ivalent ti"e and labo#r in his

servi&e at any !#t#re ti"e when he "ay de"and it.

-! we $ro"ise to 'ive hi" less labo#r than he has 'iven #s, we #nder2$ay

hi". -! we $ro"ise to 'ive hi" "ore labo#r than he has 'iven #s, we

over$ay hi".

-n $ra&ti&e, when two "en are ready to do the wor< and only one "an wants

to have it done, the two "en #nderbid ea&h other !or it E and the one who

'ets it to do is #nder2$aid. ;#t when two "en want the wor< done and there

is only one "an ready to do it, the two "en who want it done overbid ea&h

other, and the wor<"an is over2$aid. The &entral $rin&i$le o! ri'ht or j#st$ay"ent lies between these two $oints o! inj#sti&e.

-nas"#&h as labo#r ri'htly dire&ted is !r#it!#l j#st as seed is, the !r#it 6or

interest as it is &alled o! the labo#r Arst 'iven, or advan&ed, o#'ht to be

ta<en into a&&o#nt and balan&ed by an additional *#antity o! labo#r in the

s#bse*#ent re$ay"ent. There!ore the ty$i&al !or" o! bar'ain will be+ i! yo#

'ive "e an ho#r today, - will 'ive yo# an ho#r and Ave "in#tes on de"and.

-! yo# 'ive "e a $o#nd o! bread today, - will 'ive yo# seventeen o#n&es on

de"and and so on.

/ow i! two "en are ready to do the wor< and i! - e"$loy one who oHers to

wor< at hal! $ri&e he will be hal!2starved while the other "an will be le!t o#t

o! e"$loy"ent. )ven i! - $ay d#e wa'es to the wor<"an &hosen by "e, the

other "an will be #ne"$loyed. ;#t then "y wor<"an will not have to

starve, and - shall have "ade a j#st #se o! "y "oney. -! - $ay d#e wa'es to

"y "an, - shall not be able to a"ass #nne&essary ri&hes, to waste "oney

on l#%#ries and to add to the "ass o! $overty in the world. The wor<"an

who re&eives d#e wa'es !ro" "e will a&t j#stly to his s#bordinates. Th#s the

strea" o! j#sti&e will not dry #$, b#t 'ather stren'th as it Cows onward. 5nd

the nation with s#&h a sense o! j#sti&e will be ha$$y and $ros$ero#s.

e th#s And that the e&ono"ists are wron' in thin<in' that &o"$etition is

'ood !or a nation. o"$etition only enables the $#r&haser to obtain his

labo#r #nj#stly &hea$, with the res#lt that the ri&h 'row ri&her and the $oor

$oorer. -n the lon' r#n it &an only lead the nation to r#in. 5 wor<"an sho#ld

re&eive a j#st wa'e a&&ordin' to his ability. )ven then there will be&o"$etition o! a sort, b#t the $eo$le will be ha$$y and s<il!#l, be&a#se they

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will not have to #nderbid one another, b#t to a&*#ire new s<ills in order to

se&#re e"$loy"ent. This is the se&ret o! the attra&tiveness o! 'overn"ent

servi&es in whi&h salaries are A%ed a&&ordin' to the 'radation o! $osts. The

&andidate !or it does not oHer to wor< with a lower salary b#t only &lai"s

that he is abler than his &o"$etitors. The sa"e is the &ase in the ar"y and

in the navy, where there is little &orr#$tion. ;#t in trade and "an#!a&t#re

there is o$$ressive &o"$etition, whi&h res#lts in !ra#d, &hi&anery and the!t.

otten 'oods are "an#!a&t#red. The "an#!a&t#rer, the labo#rer, the&ons#"er, 2 ea&h is "ind!#l o! his own interest. This $oisons all h#"an

inter&o#rse. Labo#rers starve and 'o on stri<e. Man#!a&t#rers be&o"e

ro'#es and &ons#"ers too ne'le&t the ethi&al as$e&t o! their own &ond#&t.

Bne inj#sti&e leads to "ay others, and in the end the e"$loyer, the

o$erative and the &#sto"er are all #nha$$y and 'o to ra&< and r#in. The

very wealth o! the $eo$le a&ts a"on' the" as a &#res.

/othin' in history has been so dis'ra&e!#l to h#"an intelle&t as the

a&&e$tan&e a"on' #s o! the &o""on do&trines o! e&ono"i&s as a s&ien&e. -<now no $revio#s instan&e in history o! a nations establishin' a syste"ati&

disobedien&e to the Arst $rin&i$le o! its $ro!essed reli'ion.

 The writin's whi&h we 6verbally estee" as divine not only deno#n&e the

love o! "oney as the so#r&e o! all evil, and as an idolatry abhorred o! the

deity, b#t de&lare "a""on servi&e to be the a&&#rate and irre&on&ilable

o$$osite o! Gods servi&e E and whenever they s$ea< o! ri&hes absol#te and

$overty absol#te, de&lare woe to the ri&h and blessin' to the $oor.

 Tr#e e&ono"i&s is the e&ono"i&s o! j#sti&e.

7eo$le will be ha$$y in so !ar as they learn to do j#sti&e and be ri'hteo#s.

5ll else is not only vain b#t leads strai'ht to destr#&tion. To tea&h the $eo$le

to 'et ri&h by hoo< or by &roo< is to do the" an i""ense disservi&e.

)ssay -V+ 5d valore"

e have seen how the ideas #$on whi&h $oliti&al e&ono"y is based are

"isleadin'. Translated into a&tion they &an only "a<e the individ#al and the

nation #nha$$y. They "a<e the $oor $oorer and the ri&h ri&her and none are

any the ha$$ier !or it.

)&ono"i&s do not ta<e the &ond#&t o! "en into a&&o#nt b#t hold that the

a&&#"#lation o! wealth is the si'n o! $ros$erity, and that the ha$$iness o!nations de$ends #$on their wealth alone. The "ore !a&tories, the "errier.

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 Th#s "en leave villa'e !ar"s with their s$rin' winds and &o"in' to &ities,

live di"inished lives in the "idst o! noise, o! dar<ness, and o! deadly

e%halation. This leads to deterioration o! the national $hysi*#e, and to

in&reasin' avari&e and i""orality. -! so"e one tal<s o! ste$s to be ta<en to

eradi&ate vi&e, so2&alled wise "en will say that it is o! no #se at all that the

$oor sho#ld re&eive ed#&ation and that it is best to let thin's alone. They

however !or'et that the ri&h are res$onsible !or the i""orality o! the $oor,

who wor< li<e slaves in order to s#$$ly the" with their l#%#ries, and havenot a "o"ent whi&h they &an &all their own !or sel!2better"ent. )nvyin' the

ri&h, the $oor also try to be ri&h, and when they !ail in this eHort, they are

an'ry. They then lose their senses, and try to "a<e "oney by !or&e o! !ra#d.

 Th#s both wealth and labo#r are barren o! all !r#it or else are #tilied !or

&hi&anery.

Labo#r in the real sense o! the ter" is that whi&h $rod#&es #se!#l arti&les.

Use!#l arti&les are those whi&h s#$$ort h#"an li!e, s#&h as !ood, &lothes or

ho#ses, and enable "en to $er!e&t the !#n&tions o! their own lives to the#t"ost and also to e%er&ise a hel$!#l inC#en&e over the lives o! others. The

establish"ent o! bi' !a&tories with a view to 'ettin' ri&h "ay lead a $erson

into sin. Many $eo$le a"ass ri&hes b#t !ew "a<e a 'ood #se o! it.

5&&#"#lated wealth whi&h leads to the destr#&tion o! a nation is o! no

earthly #se. The &a$italists o! "odern ti"es are res$onsible !or wide s$read

and #nj#st wars whi&h ori'inate !ro" the &oveto#sness o! "an<ind.

(o"e $eo$le say that it is not $ossible to i"$art <nowled'e so as to

a"eliorate the &ondition o! the "asses E let #s there!ore live as see"s Atand a"ass ri&hes. ;#t this is an i""oral attit#de. or the 'ood "an who

observes ethi&al r#les and does not 'ive way to 'reed has a dis&i$lined

"ind, does not stray !ro" the ri'ht $ath, and inC#en&es others by his a&ts. -! 

the individ#als who &onstit#te a nation are i""oral, so is the nation too. -!

we behave as we &hoose and at the sa"e ti"e ta<e o#r nei'hbo#rs to tas<

!or their wron'doin', the res#lts &an only be disa$$ointin'.

e th#s see that "oney is only an instr#"ent whi&h "a<es !or "isery as

well as ha$$iness. -n the hands o! a 'ood "an it hel$s in the &#ltivation o!

land and the harvestin' o! &ro$s. #ltivators wor< in inno&ent &ontent"ent

and the nation is ha$$y. ;#t in the hands o! a bad "an, "oney hel$s to

$rod#&e say '#n$owder whi&h wor<s havo& a"on' its "an#!a&t#rers as well

as a"on' its vi&ti"s. There!ore T3)) -( /B )5LT3 ;UT L-). That

&o#ntry is the ri&hest whi&h no#rishes the 'reatest n#"ber o! noble and

ha$$y h#"an bein's E that "an is ri&hest who, havin' $er!e&ted the

!#n&tions o! his own li!e to the #t"ost, has also the widest hel$!#l inC#en&e,

both $ersonal and by "eans o! his $ossessions, over the lives o! others.

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 This is not a ti"e !or sel!2ind#l'en&e b#t !or ea&h o! #s to labo#r a&&ordin'

to o#r &a$a&ity. -! one "an lives in idleness, another has to $#t in a do#ble

a"o#nt o! wor<. This is at the root o! the distress o! the $oor in )n'land.

(o"e so2&alled wor< is n#'atory as in jewel2&#ttin' and even destr#&tive as

in war. -t brin's abo#t a di"in#tion in the national &a$ital, and is not

beneA&ial to the wor<er hi"sel!. -t see"s as i! "en are e"$loyed, b#t really

they are idle. The ri&h o$$ress the $oor by "is#se o! ri&hes. )"$loyers and

e"$loyees are at da''ers drawn with one another, and "en are red#&ed tothe level o! beasts.

on&l#sion

#s<ins boo< th#s $ara$hrased has a lesson !or -ndians no less than !or the

)n'lish"en to who" it was $ri"arily addressed. /ew ideas are in the air in

-ndia. B#r yo#n' "en who have re&eived estern ed#&ation are !#ll o! s$irit.

 This s$irit sho#ld be dire&ted into the ri'ht &hannels, as otherwise it &an

only do #s har". Let #s have (waraj is one slo'an E Let #s ind#strialie the&o#ntry is another.

;#t we hardly #nderstand what (waraj is. /atal !or instan&e enjoys (waraj

b#t her (waraj stin<s in o#r nostrils, !or she &r#shes the ne'roes, and

o$$resses the -ndians. -! by so"e &han&e the ne'roes and the -ndians le!t

/atal, its white "en wo#ld A'ht a"on' the"selves and brin' abo#t their

own destr#&tion.

-! not li<e /atals will we have (waraj as in the Transvaal one o! whose

leaders, General ("#ts, brea<s his $ro"ises, says one thin' and does

another J 3e has dis$ensed with the servi&es o! )n'lish $oli&e"en and

e"$loyed 5!ri<anders instead. - do not thin< that this is 'oin' to hel$ any o!

the nationalities in the lon' r#n. (elAsh "en will loot their own $eo$le, when

there are no "ore o#tsiders le!t to be looted.

 Th#s (waraj is not eno#'h to "a<e a nation ha$$y. hat wo#ld be the res#lt

o! (waraj bein' &on!erred on a band o! robbers J They wo#ld be ha$$y only

i! they were $la&ed #nder the &ontrol o! a 'ood "an who was not a robber

hi"sel!. The United (tates, )n'land and ran&e !or instan&e are $ower!#l

(tates, b#t there is no reason to thin< that they are really ha$$y.

(waraj really "eans sel!2&ontrol. Bnly he is &a$able o! sel!2&ontrol who

observes the r#les o! "orality, does not &heat or 'ive #$ tr#th, and does his

d#ty to his $arents, wi!e and &hildren, servants and nei'hbo#rs. (#&h a "an

is in enjoy"ent o! (waraj, no "atter where he lives. 5 state enjoys (waraj i!it &an boast o! a lar'e n#"ber o! s#&h 'ood &itiens.

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-t is not ri'ht that one $eo$le sho#ld r#le another. ;ritish r#le in -ndia is an

evil, b#t let #s not r#n away with the idea that all will be well when the

;ritish *#it -ndia.

 The e%isten&e o! ;ritish r#le in the &o#ntry is d#e to o#r dis#nity, i""oralityand i'noran&e. -! these national de!e&ts were over&o"e, not only wo#ld the

;ritish leave -ndia witho#t a shot bein' Ared b#t we wo#ld be enjoyin' real

(waraj.

(o"e !oolish -ndians rejoi&e in bo"b2throwin', b#t i! all the ;ritishers in the

&o#ntry were th#s <illed, the <illers wo#ld be&o"e the r#lers o! -ndia who

wo#ld only have a &han'e o! "asters. The bo"b now thrown at )n'lish"en

will be ai"ed at -ndians a!ter the )n'lish are there no lon'er. -t was a

ren&h"an who "#rdered the 7resident o! the ren&h e$#bli&. -t was an5"eri&an who "#rdered 7resident leveland. Let #s not blindly i"itate

estern $eo$le.

-! (waraj &annot be attained by the sin o! <illin' )n'lish"en, it &annot be

attained either by the ere&tion o! h#'e !a&tories. Gold and silver "ay be

a&&#"#lated b#t they will not lead to the establish"ent o! (waraj. #s<in

has $roved this to the hilt. estern &iviliation is a "ere baby, a h#ndred or

only A!ty years old. 5nd yet it has red#&ed )#ro$e to a sorry $li'ht. Let #s

$ray that -ndia is saved !ro" the !ate that has overta<en )#ro$e, where the

nations are $oised !or an atta&< on one another, and are silent only be&a#se

o! the sto&<$ilin' o! ar"a"ents. (o"e day there will be an e%$losion, and

then )#ro$e will be a veritable hell on earth. /on2white ra&es are loo<ed

#$on as le'iti"ate $rey by every )#ro$ean state. hat else &an we e%$e&t

where &oveto#sness is the r#lin' $assion in the breasts o! "en J )#ro$eans

$o#n&e #$on new territories li<e &rows #$on a $ie&e o! "eat. - a" in&lined

to thin< that this is d#e to their "ass2$rod#&tion !a&tories.

-ndia "#st indeed have (waraj b#t she "#st have it by ri'hteo#s "ethods.

B#r (waraj "#st be real (waraj, whi&h &annot be attained by either violen&e

or ind#strialiation. -ndia was on&e a 'olden land, be&a#se -ndians then had

hearts o! 'old. The land is still the sa"e b#t it is a desert be&a#se we are

&orr#$t. -t &an be&o"e a land o! 'old a'ain only i! the base "etal o! o#r

$resent national &hara&ter is trans"#ted into 'old. The $hiloso$hers stone

whi&h &an eHe&t this 61 trans!or"ation is a little word o! two syllables 2

(atya 6Tr#th. -! every -ndian sti&<s to tr#th, (waraj will &o"e to #s o! its own

a&&ord.

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61 -nstit#tions, says 3erbert ($en&er, are de$endent on &hara&ter E and

however &han'ed in their s#$erA&ial as$e&ts, &annot be &han'ed in their

essential nat#res !aster than &hara&ter &han'es.

7#bli& do"ain This wor< is now in the $#bli& do"ain be&a#se it

ori'inates !ro" -ndia and its ter" o! &o$yri'ht has e%$ired. 5&&ordin' to The

-ndian o$yri'ht 5&t, 19@O, all literary, dra"ati&, "#si&al and artisti& wor<s6other than $hoto'ra$hs $#blished within the li!eti"e o! the a#thor 6s. ==

enter the $#bli& do"ain a!ter si%ty years &o#nted !ro" the be'innin' o! the

!ollowin' &alendar year 6ie. as o! =01?, $rior to 1 4an#ary 19@? a!ter the

death o! the a#thor. 7osth#"o#s wor<s 6s. =?, $hoto'ra$hs 6s. =@,

&ine"ato'ra$h Al"s 6s. =, and so#nd re&ordin's 6s. =O enter the $#bli&

do"ain si%ty years a!ter the Arst $#bli&ation. la' o! -ndia.sv'

etrieved !ro" :htt$+QQwi<ilivres.&aQwi<iQUntoRThisRLastR 

S)=S0S9?RM.RK.RGandhi:

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