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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 +
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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
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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.
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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
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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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