—–­ {67} We have seen what became of the Romans, when the tribute paid by other nations enabled them to live in idleness.  The influx of wealth from America produced nearly the same effect on Spain:  though it lasted for a very short time, yet it ruined the country. -=-

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It is not absolutely necessary, then, for an individual to conciliate affluence with industry, or, which is the same thing, to preserve one of the effects of necessity, after the necessity has ceased to exist.  But if it were possible for a sum of money, or property of any sort, to be given to each individual in a nation, which would be sufficient, in the midst of an industrious people, to enable him to live in perfect idleness, the whole nation could not become idle.  Such a case never can exist, as that of all the individuals in a country becoming sufficiently rich to live without labour.  But something approaching towards that state of things actually does take place, when, by the general increase of wealth, the necessity for labour is diminished.  The number of idle people is constantly augmenting; and even those who continue to labour do it less intensely than when the operation of necessity was more severe.  When a cause is diminished, the effect must in time fall off in proportion.

With individuals, nature has given very powerful auxiliaries to necessity, which strengthen and prolong its operation, but which do not operate equally on nations.

Habit or custom is the one auxiliary, and ambition or avarice is the other.

Habit, in all cases, diminishes the reluctance to labour, which is inherent in the most part of mankind, and sometimes entirely overcomes it. {68} Ambition, which appears under many different forms, renders labour absolutely an enjoyment.  Sometimes ambition is merely a desire of amassing property, an avaricious disposition:  sometimes it is a desire to create a family; and even, sometimes, the vain and delusive idea of retiring from business, and becoming happy in a state of total idleness, spurs a man on to labour.  It is a very curious, but well-known fact, that, after necessity has entirely ceased to promote industry, the love of complete idleness, and the hope of enjoying it at some distant date, leads the wealthy man on, to his last hour, in a train of augmented industry.  Thus has nature most wisely counteracted

—–­ {68} There are many instances where habit has rendered a particular sort of labour absolutely a want.  It has become a necessary,—­a means of enjoyment without which life has become a burthen. -=-

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the disposition of man to idleness; by making the very propensity to it, after a certain time, active in promoting industry.

But this can never be the case with a race of men:  {69} and, as a nation consists of a greater number of individuals, so, also, its existence consists of successive generations.