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POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE GREEKS.CHAPTER X.THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE GREEKS.THE increasing wants of modern stateshave not only employed practical statesmen, but have led to the formation ofmany theories, of which the truth and utilityare still subjects of discussion.Among the ancients, the finances of thenation were not regarded from so high a point of view, andtherefore could not have been, in the same degree, an objectof speculation. Whether the world has lost by this, or not,is a question which we prefer to leave unanswered. If theancients knew less of the importance of the division oflabour, they were also less acquainted with the doctrine ofthe modern schools, which transforms nations into productiveherds. The Greeks were aware, that men must have productive arts, if they would live ;but that it is the end oflife to be employed in them, never entered their minds.But the modern should not look with absolute contempton the state of political science among the ancients. Thechief question now agitated between theorists and practicalstatesmen, whether the mere gain in money decides on thewealth of a nation, and should form the object of its industry,was correctly understood and answered by the illustriousStagirite. "Many/' says he, 1 "suppose wealth to consist inthe abundance of coined money, because it is the object ofusury and commerce. Money is of itself without value, andgains its utility only by the law; when it ceases to be current,it loses its value, 2 and cannot be employed in the acquisitionof necessaries; and therefore he who is rich in money, mayyet be destitute of a necessary support. But it is ridiculousto say, that wealth consists in any thing, of which a manmay be possessed, and yet die of hunger as the fable relates;of Midas, at whose touch every thing became gold." 31Aristot Polit. i. 9.2 "On re ptTa&tpkvwv rSJv xpwjuii/wv ovdwog a^iov /cat x^ fflpov ^C ovfcv raiyayayicat&jv tori. I refer ypw//i/a>j/ to cities or states. '* If the cities whichhitherto made use of it, change it."8 Aristotle found in the traditions of Greece, a more suitable example, thanthat which the French government usually cited respecting the man, whohad abundance of gold on a desert island.