Chapter II.: Of Production, or the formation of our Riches.

In the first place what ought we to understand by the word production? We create nothing. We operate only changes of form and of place.

To produce is to give to things an utility which they had not before.

All labour from which utility results is productive.

That relative to agriculture has in this respect nothing particular.

A farm is truly a manufactory.

A field is a real tool, or in other words a stock of first materials.

All the laborious class is productive.

The truly sterile class is that of the idle.

Manufacturers fabricate, merchants transport. This is our industry. It consists in the production of utility.