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and the question for the nation is not how much labour it
employs； but how much life it produces。 For as consumption is the
end and aim of production； so life is the end and aim of
consumption。
I left this question to the reader's thought two months ago；
choosing rather that he should work it out for himself than have
it sharply stated to him。 But now； the ground being sufficiently
broken （and the details into which the several questions； here
opened； must lead us； being too complex for discussion in the
pages of a periodical； so that I must pursue them elsewhere）； I
desire； in closing the series of introductory papers； to leave
this one great fact clearly stated。 THERE IS NO WEALTH BUT LIFE。
Life； including all its powers of love； of joy； and of
admiration。 That country is the richest which nourishes the
greatest number of noble and happy human beings； that man is
richest who； having perfected the functions of his own life to
the utmost； has also the widest helpful influence； both personal；
and by means of his possessions； over the lives of others。
A strange political economy； the only one； nevertheless； that
ever was or can be： all political economy founded on
self…interest（32*） being but the fulfilment of that which once
brought schism into the Policy of angels； and ruin into the
Economy of Heaven。
〃The greatest number of human beings noble and happy。〃 But is
the nobleness consistent with the number？ Yes； not only
consistent with it； but essential to it。 The maximum of life can
only be reached by the maximum of virtue。 In this respect the law
of human population differs wholly from that of animal life。 The
multiplication of animals is checked only by want of food； and by
the hostility of races； the population of the gnat is restrained
by the hunger of the swallow； and that of the swallow by the
scarcity of gnats。 Man； considered as an animal； is indeed
limited by the same laws： hunger； or plague； or war； are the
necessary and only restraints upon his increase； effectual
restraints hitherto； his principal study having been how most
swiftly to destroy himself； or ravage his dwelling…places； and
his highest skill directed to give range to the famine； seed to
the plague； and sway to the sword。 But； considered as other than
an animal； his increase is not limited by these laws。 It is
limited only by the limits of his courage and his love。 Both of
these have their bounds； and ought to have； his race has its
bounds also； but these have not yet been reached； nor will be
reached for ages。
In all the ranges of human thought I know none so melancholy
as the speculations of political economists on the population
question。 It is proposed to better the condition of the labourer
by giving him higher wages。 〃Nay；〃 says the economist； 〃if you
raise his wages； he will either people down to the same point of
misery at which you found him； or drink your wages away。〃 He
will。 I know it。 Who gave him this will？ Suppose it were your own
son of whom you spoke； declaring to me that you dared not take
him into your firm； nor even give him his just labourer's wages；
because if you did he would die of drunkenness； and leave half a
score of children to the parish。 〃Who gave your son these
dispositions？〃 I should enquire。 Has he them by inheritance or
by education？ By one or other they must come； and as in him； so
also in the poor。 Either these poor are of a race essentially
different from ours； and unredeemable （which； however； often
implied； I have heard none yet openly say）； or else by such care
as we have ourselves received； we may make them continent and
sober as ourselves…wise and dispassionate as we are models
arduous of imitation。 〃But；〃 it is answered； 〃they cannot receive
education。〃 Why not？ That is precisely the point at issue。
Charitable persons suppose the worst fault of the rich is to
refuse the people meat； and the people cry for their meat； kept
back by fraud； to the Lord of Multitudes。（33*） Alas！ it is not
meat of which the refusal is cruelest； or to which the claim is
validest。 The life is more than the meat。 The rich not only
refuse food to the poor； they refuse wisdom； they refuse virtue；
they refuse salvation。 Ye sheep without shepherd； it is not the
pasture that has been shut from you； but the Presence。 Meat！
perhaps your right to that may be pleadable； but other rights
have to be pleaded first。 Claim your crumbs from the table； if
you will； but claim them as children； not as dogs； claim your
right to be fed； but claim more loudly your right to be holy；
perfect； and pure。
Strange words to be used of working people： 〃What！ holy；
without any long robes nor anointing oils； these rough…jacketed；
rough…worded persons； set to nameless and dishonoured service？
Perfect！ these； with dim eyes and cramped limbs； and slowly
wakening minds？ Pure these； with sensual desire and grovelling
thought； foul of body； and coarse of soul？〃 It may be so；
nevertheless； such as they are； they are the holiest； perfectest；
purest persons the earth can at present show。 They may be what
you have said； but if so； they yet are holier than we； who have
left them thus。
But what can be done for them？ Who can clothe who teach
who restrain their multitudes？ What end can there he for them at
last； but to consume one another？
I hope for another end； though not； indeed； from any of the
three remedies for over…population commonly suggested by
economists。
These three are； in brief Colonization； Bringing in of
waste lands； or Discouragement of Marriage。
The first and second of these expedients merely evade or
delay the question。 It will； indeed； be long before the world has
been all colonized； and its deserts all brought under
cultivation。 But the radical question is not how much habitable
land is in the world； but how many human beings ought to be
maintained on a given space of habitable land。
Observe； I say； ought to be； not how many can be。 Ricardo；
with his usual inaccuracy； defines what he calls the 〃natural
rate of wages〃 as 〃that which will maintain the labourer。〃
Maintain him！ yes； but how？ the question was instantly thus
asked of me by a working girl； to whom I read the passage。 I will
amplify her question for her。 〃Maintain him； how？〃 As； first； to
what length of life？ Out of a given number of fed persons how
many are to be old how many young； that is to say； will you
arrange their maintenance so as to kill them early say at
thirty or thirty…five on the average；