26 CRITIQUES AND ADDRESSES. [i. 



enjoy without diminishing the happiness of his fellow- 



men. 1 



If we inquire what kinds of happiness come under 

 this definition, we find those derived from the sense of 

 security or peace ; from wealth, or commodity, obtained 

 by commerce ; from Art whether it be architecture, 

 sculpture, painting, music, or literature ; from knowledge, 

 or science ; and, finally, from sympathy or friendship. 

 No man is injured, but the contrary, by peace. No man 

 is any the worse off because another acquires wealth by 

 trade, or by the exercise of a profession ; on the con 

 trary, he cannot have acquired his wealth, except by 

 benefiting others to the full extent of what they con 

 sidered to be its value ; and his wealth is no more than 

 fairy gold if he does not go on benefiting others in the 

 same way. A thousand men may enjoy the pleasure 

 derived from a picture, a symphony, or a poem, without 

 lessening the happiness of the most devoted connoisseur. 

 The investigation of nature is an infinite pasture-ground, 

 where all may graze, and where the more bite, the longer 

 the grass grows, the sweeter is its flavour, and the more 

 it nourishes. If I love a friend, it is no damage to me, 

 but rather a pleasure, if all the world also love him and 

 think of him as highly as I do. 



It appears to be universally agreed, for the reasons 

 already mentioned, that it is unnecessary and undesirable 

 for the State to attempt to promote the acquisition of 

 wealth by any direct interference with commerce. But 

 there is no such agreement as to the further question 



1 &quot; Hie est itaque finis ad quern tendo, talem scilicet Naturam acquirere, et 

 ut multi mecum cam acquirant, conari hoc est de mea felicitate etiam opcrafri 

 dare, ut alii multi idem atque ego intelligant, ut eorum intellectus et cupiditas 

 prorsus cum meo intellectu et cupiditate conveniant : atque hoc fiat, uecesse 

 est tantum de Natura intelligere, quantum, sufficit ad talem naturam acquiren- 

 dam ; deinde formare talem societatem qualis est desideranda, ut quara plurimi 

 quam iacillime et secure co perveniaut.&quot; B. SPINOZA, De InleUcdils JEmen- 

 datione Tractates. 



