投资 · 西方古典
托马斯·马尔萨斯：人口论·摘录 148
托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资
Three or four hundred years ago there was undoubtedly much less labour in England, in proportion to the population, than at present, but there was much more dependence, and we probably should not now enjoy our present degree of civil liberty if the poor, by the introduction of manufactures, had not been enabled to give something in exchange for the provisions of the great Lords, instead of being dependent upon their bounty. Even the greatest enemies of trade and manufactures, and I do not reckon myself a very determined friend to them, must allow that when they were introduced into England, liberty came in their train.
出处：
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位：Excerpt 148 · 核对日期：2026-10-19 · 核验：短摘录
白话
三四百年前，英格兰劳动力相对人口少得多，但依赖关系也重得多。如果穷人没有因制造业兴起而能用劳动交换大领主的粮食，而是一直靠领主施舍，我们今天大概不会享有现在的公民自由。即使最反对贸易和制造业的人（马尔萨斯自称也不算其坚定朋友）也得承认：它们引入英格兰时，自由随之而来。所以，经济独立是政治自由的基础；让穷人能交换而非乞讨，比单纯救济更能带来自由。
上下文
马尔萨斯在《人口论》中回顾英国制造业兴起，说明经济交换如何削弱人身依附、带来自由。
今日一问
你帮助他人时，是在增强其交换能力，还是加深其依赖？
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