§. 42. To make this a little clearer, let us but trace some of the ordinary
provisions of life, through their several progresses, before they come to our
use, and see how much they receive of their value from human industry. Bread,
wine, and cloth are things of daily use and great plenty; yet notwithstanding
acorns, water, and leaves, or skins must be our bread, drink and clothing, did
not labour furnish us with these more useful commodities. For whatever bread is
more worth than acorns, wine than water, and cloth or silk than leaves, skins
or moss, that is wholly owing to labour and industry. The one of these being
the food and raiment which unassisted Nature furnishes us with; the other
provisions which our industry and pains prepare for us, which how much they
exceed the other in value, when any one hath computed, he will then see how
much labour makes the far greatest part of the value of things we enjoy in this
world; and the ground which produces the materials is scarce to be reckoned in
as any, or at most, but a very small part of it; so little, that even amongst
us, land that is left wholly to nature, that hath no improvement of pasturage,
tillage, or planting, is called, as indeed it is, waste; and we shall find the
benefit of it amount to little more than nothing.
