按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
not always； in the same degree of goodness； come cheaper to
market than that of the poor。 The corn of Poland； in the same
degree of goodness； is as cheap as that of France；
notwithstanding the superior opulence and improvement of the
latter country。 The corn of France is； in the corn provinces；
fully as good； and in most years nearly about the same price with
the corn of England； though； in opulence and improvement； France
is perhaps inferior to England。 The corn…lands of England；
however； are better cultivated than those of France； and the
corn…lands of France are said to be much better cultivated than
those of Poland。 But though the poor country； notwithstanding the
inferiority of its cultivation； can； in some measure； rival the
rich in the cheapness and goodness of its corn； it can pretend to
no such competition in its manufactures； at least if those
manufactures suit the soil； climate； and situation of the rich
country。 The silks of France are better and cheaper than those of
England； because the silk manufacture； at least under the present
high duties upon the importation of raw silk； does not so well
suit the climate of England as that of France。 But the hardware
and the coarse woollens of England are beyond all comparison
superior to those of France； and much cheaper too in the same
degree of goodness。 In Poland there are said to be scarce any
manufactures of any kind； a few of those coarser household
manufactures excepted； without which no country can well subsist。
This great increase of the quantity of work which； in
consequence of the division of labour； the same number of people
are capable of performing； is owing to three different
circumstances； first； to the increase of dexterity in every
particular workman； secondly； to the saving of the time which is
commonly lost in passing from one species of work to another； and
lastly； to the invention of a great number of machines which
facilitate and abridge labour； and enable one man to do the work
of many。
First； the improvement of the dexterity of the workman
necessarily increases the quantity of the work he can perform；
and the division of labour； by reducing every man's business to
some one simple operation； and by making this operation the sole
employment of his life； necessarily increased very much dexterity
of the workman。 A common smith； who； though accustomed to handle
the hammer； has never been used to make nails； if upon some
particular occasion he is obliged to attempt it； will scarce； I
am assured； be able to make above two or three hundred nails in a
day； and those too very bad ones。 A smith who has been accustomed
to make nails； but whose sole or principal business has not been
that of a nailer； can seldom with his utmost diligence make more
than eight hundred or a thousand nails in a day。 I have seen
several boys under twenty years of age who had never exercised
any other trade but that of making nails； and who； when they
exerted themselves； could make； each of them； upwards of two
thousand three hundred nails in a day。 The making of a nail；
however； is by no means one of the simplest operations。 The same
person blows the bellows； stirs or mends the fire as there is
occasion； heats the iron； and forges every part of the nail： in
forging the head too he is obliged to change his tools。 The
different operations into which the making of a pin； or of a
metal button； is subdivided； are all of them much more simple；
and the dexterity of the person； of whose life it has been the
sole business to perform them； is usually much greater。 The
rapidity with which some of the operations of those manufacturers
are performed； exceeds what the human hand could； by those who
had never seen them； be supposed capable of acquiring。
Secondly； the advantage which is gained by saving the time
commonly lost in passing from one sort of work to another is much
greater than we should at first view be apt to imagine it。 It is
impossible to pass very quickly from one kind of work to another
that is carried on in a different place and with quite different
tools。 A country weaver； who cultivates a small farm； must lose a
good deal of time in passing from his loom to the field； and from
the field to his loom。 When the two trades can be carried on in
the same workhouse； the loss of time is no doubt much less。 It is
even in this case； however； very considerable。 A man commonly
saunters a little in turning his hand from one sort of employment
to another。 When he first begins the new work he is seldom very
keen and hearty； his mind； as they say； does not go to it； and
for some time he rather trifles than applies to good purpose。 The
habit of sauntering and of indolent careless application； which
is naturally； or rather necessarily acquired by every country
workman who is obliged to change his work and his tools every
half hour； and to apply his hand in twenty different ways almost
every day of his life； renders him almost always slothful and
lazy； and incapable of any vigorous application even on the most
pressing occasions。 Independent； therefore； of his deficiency in
point of dexterity； this cause alone must always reduce
considerably the quantity of work which he is capable of
performing。
Thirdly； and lastly； everybody must be sensible how much
labour is facilitated and abridged by the application of proper
machinery。 It is unnecessary to give any example。 I shall only
observe； therefore； that the invention of all those machines by
which labour is so much facilitated and abridged seems to have
been originally owing to the division of labour。 Men are much
more likely to discover easier and readier methods of attaining
any object when the whole attention of their minds is directed
towards that single object than when it is dissipated among a
great variety of things。 But in consequence of the division of
labour； the whole of every man's attention comes naturally to be
directed towards some one very simple object。 It is naturally to
be expected； therefore； that some one or other of those who are
employed in each particular branch of labour should soon find out
easier and readier methods of performing their own particular
work； wherever the nature of it admits of such improvement。 A
great part of the machines made use of in those manufactures in
which labour is most subdivided； were originally the inventions
of common workmen； who； being each of them employed in some very
simple operation； naturally turned their thoughts towards finding
out easier and readier methods of performing it。 Whoever has been
much accustomed to visit such manufactures must frequently have
been shown very pretty machines； which were the inventions of
such workmen in order to facilitate and quicken their particular
part of the work。 In the first fire…engines； a boy was constantly
employed to open and shut alternately the communication between
the boiler and the cylinder； accor