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employed to open and shut alternately the communication between
the boiler and the cylinder； according as the piston either
ascended or descended。 One of those boys； who loved to play with
his companions； observed that； by tying a string from the handle
of the valve which opened this communication to another part of
the machine； the valve would open and shut without his
assistance； and leave him at liberty to divert himself with his
playfellows。 One of the greatest improvements that has been made
upon this machine； since it was first invented； was in this
manner the discovery of a boy who wanted to save his own labour。
All the improvements in machinery； however； have by no means
been the inventions of those who had occasion to use the
machines。 Many improvements have been made by the ingenuity of
the makers of the machines； when to make them became the business
of a peculiar trade； and some by that of those who are called
philosophers or men of speculation； whose trade it is not to do
anything； but to observe everything； and who； upon that account；
are often capable of combining together the powers of the most
distant and dissimilar objects。 In the progress of society；
philosophy or speculation becomes； like every other employment；
the principal or sole trade and occupation of a particular class
of citizens。 Like every other employment too； it is subdivided
into a great number of different branches； each of which affords
occupation to a peculiar tribe or class of philosophers； and this
subdivision of employment in philosophy； as well as in every
other business； improves dexterity； and saves time。 Each
individual becomes more expert in his own peculiar branch； more
work is done upon the whole； and the quantity of science is
considerably increased by it。
It is the great multiplication of the productions of all the
different arts； in consequence of the division of labour； which
occasions； in a well…governed society； that universal opulence
which extends itself to the lowest ranks of the people。 Every
workman has a great quantity of his own work to dispose of beyond
what he himself has occasion for； and every other workman being
exactly in the same situation； he is enabled to exchange a great
quantity of his own goods for a great quantity； or； what comes to
the same thing； for the price of a great quantity of theirs。 He
supplies them abundantly with what they have occasion for； and
they accommodate him as amply with what he has occasion for； and
a general plenty diffuses itself through all the different ranks
of the society。
Observe the accommodation of the most common artificer or
day…labourer in a civilised and thriving country； and you will
perceive that the number of people of whose industry a part；
though but a small part； has been employed in procuring him this
accommodation； exceeds all computation。 The woollen coat； for
example； which covers the day…labourer； as coarse and rough as it
may appear； is the produce of the joint labour of a great
multitude of workmen。 The shepherd； the sorter of the wool； the
wool…comber or carder； the dyer； the scribbler； the spinner； the
weaver； the fuller； the dresser； with many others； must all join
their different arts in order to complete even this homely
production。 How many merchants and carriers； besides； must have
been employed in transporting the materials from some of those
workmen to others who often live in a very distant part of the
country！ How much commerce and navigation in particular； how many
ship…builders； sailors； sail…makers； rope…makers； must have been
employed in order to bring together the different drugs made use
of by the dyer； which often come from the remotest corners of the
world！ What a variety of labour； too； is necessary in order to
produce the tools of the meanest of those workmen！ To say nothing
of such complicated machines as the ship of the sailor； the mill
of the fuller； or even the loom of the weaver； let us consider
only what a variety of labour is requisite in order to form that
very simple machine； the shears with which the shepherd clips the
wool。 The miner； the builder of the furnace for smelting the ore；
the seller of the timber； the burner of the charcoal to be made
use of in the smelting…house； the brickmaker； the brick…layer；
the workmen who attend the furnace； the mill…wright； the forger；
the smith； must all of them join their different arts in order to
produce them。 Were we to examine； in the same manner； all the
different parts of his dress and household furniture； the coarse
linen shirt which he wears next his skin； the shoes which cover
his feet； the bed which he lies on； and all the different parts
which compose it； the kitchen…grate at which he prepares his
victuals； the coals which he makes use of for that purpose； dug
from the bowels of the earth； and brought to him perhaps by a
long sea and a long land carriage； all the other utensils of his
kitchen； all the furniture of his table； the knives and forks；
the earthen or pewter plates upon which he serves up and divides
his victuals； the different hands employed in preparing his bread
and his beer； the glass window which lets in the heat and the
light； and keeps out the wind and the rain； with all the
knowledge and art requisite for preparing that beautiful and
happy invention； without which these northern parts of the world
could scarce have afforded a very comfortable habitation；
together with the tools of all the different workmen employed in
producing those different conveniences； if we examine； I say； all
these things； and consider what a variety of labour is employed
about each of them； we shall be sensible that； without the
assistance and co…operation of many thousands； the very meanest
person in a civilised country could not be provided； even
according to what we very falsely imagine the easy and simple
manner in which he is commonly accommodated。 Compared； indeed；
with the more extravagant luxury of the great； his accommodation
must no doubt appear extremely simple and easy； and yet it may be
true； perhaps； that the accommodation of a European prince does
not always so much exceed that of an industrious and frugal
peasant as the accommodation of the latter exceeds that of many
an African king； the absolute master of the lives and liberties
of ten thousand naked savages。
CHAPTER II
Of the Principle which gives occasion to the Division of Labour
THIS division of labour； from which so many advantages are
derived； is not originally the effect of any human wisdom； which
foresees and intends that general opulence to which it gives
occasion。 It is the necessary； though very slow and gradual
consequence of a certain propensity in human nature which has in
view no such extensive utility； the propensity to truck； barter；
and exchange one thing for another。
Whether this propensity be one of