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at a vast expense is neglected by another; who thinks he has a
more delicate sense of the beauties of architecture; and he
suffering it to fall to ruin; builds another at no less charge。
But among the Utopians all things are so regulated that men very
seldom build upon a new piece of ground; and are not only very
quick in repairing their houses; but show their foresight in
preventing their decay: so that their buildings are preserved very
long; with but little labor; and thus the builders to whom that
care belongs are often without employment; except the hewing of
timber and the squaring of stones; that the materials may be in
readiness for raising a building very suddenly when there is any
occasion for it。
As to their clothes; observe how little work is spent in them:
while they are at labor; they are clothed with leather and skins。
cast carelessly about them; which will last seven years; and when
they appear in public they put on an upper garment; which hides
the other; and these are all of one color; and that is the natural
color of the wool。 As they need less woollen cloth than is used
anywhere else; so that which they make use of is much less costly。
They use linen cloth more; but that is prepared with less labor;
and they value cloth only by the whiteness of the linen or the
cleanness of the wool; without much regard to the fineness of the
thread: while in other places; four or five upper garments of
woollen cloth; of different colors; and as many vests of silk;
will scarce serve one man; and while those that are nicer think
ten are too few; every man there is content with one; which very
often serves him two years。 Nor is there anything that can tempt a
man to desire more; for if he had them; he would neither be the
warmer nor would he make one jot the better appearance for it。 And
thus; since they are all employed in some useful labor; and since
they content themselves with fewer things; it falls out that there
is a great abundance of all things among them: so that it
frequently happens that; for want of other work; vast numbers are
sent out to mend the highways。 But when no public undertaking is
to be performed; the hours of working are lessened。 The
magistrates never engage the people in unnecessary labor; since
the chief end of the constitution is to regulate labor by the
necessities of the public; and to allow all the people as much
time as is necessary for the improvement of their minds; in which
they think the happiness of life consists。