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in effect; there was never the less left for others because of his

enclosure for himself。 For he that leaves as much as another can

make use of does as good as take nothing at all。 Nobody could think

himself injured by the drinking of another man; though he took a

good draught; who had a whole river of the same water left him to

quench his thirst。 And the case of land and water; where there is

enough of both; is perfectly the same。

  33。 God gave the world to men in common; but since He gave it them

for their benefit and the greatest conveniencies of life they were

capable to draw from it; it cannot be supposed He meant it should

always remain common and uncultivated。 He gave it to the use of the

industrious and rational (and labour was to be his title to it); not

to the fancy or covetousness of the quarrelsome and contentious。 He

that had as good left for his improvement as was already taken up

needed not complain; ought not to meddle with what was already

improved by another's labour; if he did it is plain he desired the

benefit of another's pains; which he had no right to; and not the

ground which God had given him; in common with others; to labour on;

and whereof there was as good left as that already possessed; and more

than he knew what to do with; or his industry could reach to。

  34。 It is true; in land that is common in England or any other

country; where there are plenty of people under government who have

money and commerce; no one can enclose or appropriate any part without

the consent of all his fellow…commoners; because this is left common

by compact… i。e。; by the law of the land; which is not to be violated。

And; though it be common in respect of some men; it is not so to all

mankind; but is the joint propriety of this country; or this parish。

Besides; the remainder; after such enclosure; would not be as good

to the rest of the commoners as the whole was; when they could all

make use of the whole; whereas in the beginning and first peopling

of the great common of the world it was quite otherwise。 The law man

was under was rather for appropriating。 God commanded; and his wants

forced him to labour。 That was his property; which could not be

taken from him wherever he had fixed it。 And hence subduing or

cultivating the earth and having dominion; we see; are joined

together。 The one gave title to the other。 So that God; by

commanding to subdue; gave authority so far to appropriate。 And the

condition of human life; which requires labour and materials to work

on; necessarily introduce private possessions。

  35。 The measure of property Nature well set; by the extent of

men's labour and the conveniency of life。 No man's labour could subdue

or appropriate all; nor could his enjoyment consume more than a

small part; so that it was impossible for any man; this way; to

entrench upon the right of another or acquire to himself a property to

the prejudice of his neighbour; who would still have room for as

good and as large a possession (after the other had taken out his)

as before it was appropriated。 Which measure did confine every man's

possession to a very moderate proportion; and such as he might

appropriate to himself without injury to anybody in the first ages

of the world; when men were more in danger to be lost; by wandering

from their company; in the then vast wilderness of the earth than to

be straitened for want of room to plant in。

  36。 The same measure may be allowed still; without prejudice to

anybody; full as the world seems。 For; supposing a man or family; in

the state they were at first; peopling of the world by the children of

Adam or Noah; let him plant in some inland vacant places of America。

We shall find that the possessions he could make himself; upon the

measures we have given; would not be very large; nor; even to this

day; prejudice the rest of mankind or give them reason to complain

or think themselves injured by this man's encroachment; though the

race of men have now spread themselves to all the corners of the

world; and do infinitely exceed the small number was at the beginning。

Nay; the extent of ground is of so little value without labour that

I have heard it affirmed that in Spain itself a man may be permitted

to plough; sow; and reap; without being disturbed; upon land he has no

other title to; but only his making use of it。 But; on the contrary;

the inhabitants think themselves beholden to him who; by his

industry on neglected; and consequently waste land; has increased

the stock of corn; which they wanted。 But be this as it will; which

I lay no stress on; this I dare boldly affirm; that the same rule of

propriety… viz。; that every man should have as much as he could make

use of; would hold still in the world; without straitening anybody;

since there is land enough in the world to suffice double the

inhabitants; had not the invention of money; and the tacit agreement

of men to put a value on it; introduced (by consent) larger

possessions and a right to them; which; how it has done; I shall by

and by show more at large。

  37。 This is certain; that in the beginning; before the desire of

having more than men needed had altered the intrinsic value of things;

which depends only on their usefulness to the life of man; or had

agreed that a little piece of yellow metal; which would keep without

wasting or decay; should be worth a great piece of flesh or a whole

heap of corn; though men had a right to appropriate by their labour;

each one to himself; as much of the things of Nature as he could

use; yet this could not be much; nor to the prejudice of others; where

the same plenty was still left; to those who would use the same

industry。

  Before the appropriation of land; he who gathered as much of the

wild fruit; killed; caught; or tamed as many of the beasts as he

could… he that so employed his pains about any of the spontaneous

products of Nature as any way to alter them from the state Nature

put them in; by placing any of his labour on them; did thereby acquire

a propriety in them; but if they perished in his possession without

their due use… if the fruits rotted or the venison putrefied before he

could spend it; he offended against the common law of Nature; and

was liable to be punished: he invaded his neighbour's share; for he

had no right farther than his use called for any of them; and they

might serve to afford him conveniencies of life。

  38。 The same measures governed the possession of land; too。

Whatsoever he tilled and reaped; laid up and made use of before it

spoiled; that was his peculiar right; whatsoever he enclosed; and

could feed and make use of; the cattle and product was also his。 But

if either the grass of his enclosure rotted on the ground; or the

fruit of his planting perished without gathering and laying up; this

part of the earth; notwithstanding his enclosure; was still to be

looked on as waste; and might be the possession of any other。 Thus; at

the beginning; Cain might take as much ground as he could till and

make it his own land; and yet leave enough to Abel's sheep to feed on:

a few acres would serve for both their possessions。 But as families

increased and industry enlarged their stocks; their possessions

enlarged with the need of them; but yet it was commonly without any

fixed property in the ground they made use of till they

incorporated; settled themselves together; and built cities; and then;

by consent; they came in time to set out the bounds of their

distinct territories and agree on limits between them and their

neighbours; and by laws within themselves settled the properties of

those of the same society。 For we see that in that part of the world

which was first inhabited; and therefore like to be best peopled; even

as low down as Abraham's time; they wandered with their flocks and

their herds; which was their substance; freely up and down… and this

Abraham did in a country where he was a stranger; whence it is plain

that; at least; a great part of the land lay in common; that the

inhabitants valued it not; nor claimed property in any more than

they made use of; but when there was not room enough in the same place

for their herds to feed together; they; by consent; as Abraham and Lot

did (Gen。 xiii。 5); separated and enlarged their pasture where it best

liked them。 And for the same reason; Esau went from his father and his

brother; and planted in Mount Seir (Gen。 36。 6)。

  39。 And thus; without supposing any private dominion and property in

Adam over all the world; exclusive of all other men; which can no

way be proved; nor any one's property be made out from it; but

supposing the world; given as it was to the children of men in common;

we see how labour could make men distinct titles to several parcels of

it for their private uses; wherein there could be no doubt of right;

no room for quarrel。

  40。 Nor is it so strange as; perhaps; before consideration; it may

appear; that the property of labour should be able to overbalance

the community of land; for it is labour indeed that puts the

difference of val

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