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大卫·李嘉图：政治经济学及赋税原理·摘录 72
大卫·李嘉图《政治经济学及赋税原理》· On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation · 投资
From whatever cause it may have proceeded, the effect has been so slow and gradual, that little practical inconvenience has been felt from gold and silver being the general medium in which the value of all other things is estimated. Though undoubtedly a variable measure of value, there is probably no commodity subject to fewer variations. This and the other advantages which these metals possess, such as their hardness, their malleability, their divisibility, and many more, have justly secured the preference every where given to them, as a standard for the money of civilized countries.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33310
定位：Excerpt 72 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
不管原因是什么，金银价值的变化非常缓慢、渐进，所以用它们作为衡量一切东西价值的通用媒介，实际带来的不便很小。金银固然是可变的价值尺度，但恐怕没有哪种商品比它们变动更少。再加上硬度、延展性、可分割性等优点，文明国家普遍选它们做货币标准，是有道理的。这说明选尺度不必追求绝对不变，只要变动足够小、足够慢，就够用了。
上下文
李嘉图总结金银为何被普遍用作货币标准，强调其价值相对稳定且物理属性优良。
今日一问
你选择衡量标准时，是追求绝对完美，还是接受“足够稳定、足够慢变”的实用方案？
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