ChapterTwoBookOne77

Most people who are born into poverty allow themselves to be overcome by their unfortunate situation, believing like the rich that there is only a certain quantity of goods that can give them complete satisfaction; and since they see that acquiring them is so difficult, they abandon themselves to their misfortune and do not aspire to something that they believe is impossible. The true knowledge of their poverty with which we will nourish[^1] their minds from their childhood will reassure them and will prod them to contribute to the wealth of others in order to have their share. This will (302) spur them on to make themselves worthy members of society and to increase the state’s wealth by increasing their own.

The means by which we get out of our poverty and indigence, as the natural order shows us, must also make up a large part of young people’s education; and it is the prince’s business to provide everyone with their share without distinction. Because the rich and the poor are equally indigent, according to what I have just put forward, it is equally necessary for both that the real means of satisfying their desire to be rich are well known to them, and that they are convinced that the only riches are those that are shown to them. As it (303) is very important for a state that the will of all individuals with regard to wealth forms one and that everyone unites to preserve and increase their numbers, the uniformity of feelings with regard to the way of getting rich must form the basis of this union. The institutions and the laws that the prince will want to make for this purpose will succeed much better when everyone’s mind is prepared to receive them with an inner conviction that they are reasonable and contain nothing but what nature shows and where our inclinations take us naturally when we want to get along well ourselves. I demonstrated above that there is no other true and solid way (304) to get rich than by contributing in a fair proportion to the needs of others: it is necessary that all those who must enrich the state have a perfect knowledge of these needs and that they know how to behave in order to satisfy this natural law.