102 SYMBIOGENESIS 



of capital involved, as we have seen, from the first a 

 production of (exchangeable) values over and above the per- 

 sonal needs, which thus obviously had to be restrained in view 

 of the desired or required surplus. It also involved beyond this 

 indispensable adequacy of physiological, and more than physio- 

 logical, trade economy, the presence of other organisms 

 equally prepared, equally sympathetic, and thus equally 

 deserving of mutual forbearance. It is in virtue of an adequate 

 participation in this universal scheme of labour, of give and 

 take, of live and let live, that organisms are able to accumulate 

 and to retain wealth. It is true of such honest acquisitions 

 that " Unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall 

 have abundance," as it is also inversely true of the degenerate, 

 who does not strive to maintain positive ancestral dynamics, 

 seeing that he thus surrenders vital symbiotic correlations, 

 that " from him that hath not shall be taken away even that 

 which he hath." 



What is essential above all in wealth getting is that the 

 community as a whole benefits from the activities of the 

 respective members. And it is here where we must draw the 

 line, however big the "initial outlay." The ultimate fate of 

 a trader, in nature as in human life, depends not so much on 

 the lavishness of his capital, as on its general serviceableness. 

 The particular trade came into existence because of its useful- 

 ness. It spread successfully because of the usefulness of the 

 relations which the trader was capable, wise, and sympathetic 

 enough to establish with others. It is the setting up of useful 

 and proper relations which thus from the first produces success 

 and survival. 



The possession of capital thus entails essential restraints, 

 and where they are not observed we get monstrous and undesir- 

 able growths. " Woe to him that increaseth that which is not 

 his; and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay." Such 

 distinctions, however, Spencer did not see fit to make, though 

 he could not but dimly feel that there exists a certain incon- 

 gruity in the very choice of his illustrations. "Confirming 



