ChapterThreeBookOne103

Of the Wealth of the People & if it is possible for all the Prince’s subjects to be rich

I am writing a separate chapter to say once again that the wealth of the people and that of the prince are the same thing, and that the prince can only become rich by thinking with (391) great care of enriching his people. As soon as he thinks about having wealth that is opposed to that of his people, especially to their multiplication and to the ways that facilitate it, he will only establish smoke that vanishes at a glance. The truth is too important not to say it twice. However, since a prince’s designs must go as far as the imperfection of men can reach towards universal wealth, he must not neglect to regulate the way of becoming rich for each individual and to subject to a general law the goods that certain individuals may have in their possession; not only so that, in defiance of ordinary laws, one does not seize the (392) goods of others, but also so that a small number of people do not destroy or make leave from the prince’s states a greater number because of surprises and deceits not subject to the laws. The blindness of men is so great that instead of getting rich in a manner that is suitable to the natural order, the slightest present interest makes them forget what is to come. They sacrifice to it not only justice and equity, but also a solid interest that they neglect by dint of considering an apparent profit. The prince, who must be equally attached to the interests of every one, must use wise establishments to restrain them by a barrier through which they could not pass so easily. And since it is only through a proportional contribution (393) to the needs of others that we ought to become rich, a proportion must be established in all the ways of acquiring wealth that the individuals who make up the state use.

Judiciously fixing the price of everything, taking into account the time, expenses and taxes to support state spending, will contribute much towards it. It[^1] will be very easy to establish after the fixing of the price of grains and the money, which I have just mentioned in the previous chapter. So that when everyone earns in proportion to what he has contributed to the needs of others, a small number will never be able to oppress and ruin the greater number and deter them from their natural desire to settle down and to set up (394) a household.