21.3. 3. That the Wants of the People in the South are different from
those of the North.
In Europe there is a kind of balance between the
southern and northern nations. The first have every convenience of life,
and few of its wants: the last have many wants, and few conveniences. To
one nature has given much, and demands but little; to the other she has
given but little, and demands a great deal. The equilibrium is
maintained by the laziness of the southern nations, and by the industry
and activity which she has given to those in the north. The latter are
obliged to undergo excessive labour, without which they would want
everything, and degenerate into barbarians. This has neutralised slavery
to the people of the south: as they can easily dispense with riches,
they can more easily dispense with liberty. But the people of the north
have need of liberty, for this can best procure them the means of
satisfying all those wants which they have received from nature. The
people of the north, then, are in a forced state, if they are not either
free or barbarians. Almost all the people of the south are, in some
measure, in a state of violence, if they are not slaves.
