ChapterTwoBookOne96

VIII. As a consequence of what I have just said in this chapter about the obligation and interests of princes and about the simple and natural ways that they can use to procure for their people, without exception, the true necessities, the true conveniences, and the true superfluities, a well-governed state must have three kinds of common and public goods, which have to do with the three degrees of wealth. A state must have common necessities, common conveniences, and common superfluities. Several establishments, which are found almost everywhere, aim at this, but since our minds must work to perfect what the ancients started, I will explain myself briefly on this point. (368)

By the common necessities of the state, I mean all the public establishments that give the necessary nourishment to the bodies and minds of those who are incapable of contributing to the needs of others and prevent them from dying. In this class are poorhouses,[^1] infirmaries, public schools, and all the foundations for the poor and sick. But I put in first place and above all these establishments the warehouses and public granaries of which I spoke in the preceding pages because I am convinced that they will become a kind of protection against poverty and will make the poorhouses almost unnecessary. Infirmaries will no longer be so frequented when the prince has (369) found the secret to getting necessities proportionally distributed in his states because most illnesses only come from bad food, intemperance, laziness or overworking the body. By uprooting these evils, they will no longer be so frequented, and the very rich foundations for poor patients will serve the healthy to greater advantage.