Liber II, Pars III — Quod diversi sunt modi lucrandi pecuniam, et quod aliqui illorum modorum sunt regibus et principibus congruentes. Cap. XII.

Liber II, Pars III — Quod diversi sunt modi lucrandi pecuniam, et quod aliqui illorum modorum sunt regibus et principibus congruentes. Cap. XII.

At the end of the first book of Politics. The philosopher distinguishes various ways in which money is acquired. This can happen in almost five ways. One of these is called possessory. The second is mercantile. The third is mercenary or contractual, when someone works for a wage or is hired for a price. The fourth is experimental. The fifth is artisanal. The first way to acquire money is through possession, when someone who is wealthy obtains money from the fruits of their possessions. It is fitting, according to the philosopher, for an economic manager and steward of a household to be knowledgeable about possessions, knowing which ones are the most fruitful, and from which it is possible to better assist in meeting domestic needs. This can happen if one knows which parts are abundant, so that one may thrive with the animals that are found in those parts where they are better preserved. However, we have chosen to pass over how these things can be known, and how one should conduct oneself regarding possessions, such as how birds and quadrupeds should be preserved, and which land is most suitable for agriculture: which is best for vineyard planting, and what care should be taken regarding trees. For Palladius has elaborated on many such matters. The second useful way to acquire money is called mercantile, when someone carries out trade by sea or by land, or assists those who are transporting goods. According to the philosopher, mercantile activity is divided into three parts: shipping by sea, the transport of goods by land, and assistance in trade. The third way to acquire money is called mercenary or contracted work, when someone works with the hope of earning a wage or for a set price. The fourth way is called experimental: the experiment of particulars. When someone knows the particular actions of certain individuals through which money can be earned, they are said to understand the profitable experiment. For instance, the Philosopher recounts two particular actions through which money was acquired. The first is what Thales of Miletus, one of the seven sages, did when he first began to philosophize. He, being poor, was questioned by many about why he philosophized and what value his philosophy had while he lived in poverty. He was not greedy for money, but to show that it would be easy for philosophers to become wealthy if they took care of such matters; he saw through astronomy that there would be a great abundance of olives, and he bought from all the inhabitants of that region only the oil that they would gather in the coming year. Thus, money was exchanged, and a good pledge was given for future oil: because no one could sell oil except him, and also because there was a great abundance of oil. He made a lot of money and demonstrated that it was easy for philosophers to become wealthy. The second particular action he mentions is about a certain Sicilian who bought up all the iron at the markets. Since he was the only one selling it, he made money as he pleased. Among other ways to increase wealth, according to the Philosopher, is to create a monopoly, which means to control the sale of a single item. For when one person sells alone, they set the price according to their own will. Therefore, if someone wants to acquire money, they must keep in mind these and similar particular actions through which others have made money, so that if an opportunity arises, they can profit from similar actions, as long as those actions are lawful. The fifth way is said to be through craftsmanship, when someone exercises their art in some way. Because of these, one can earn money. For although the goal of military art is victory, and that of medicinal art is health, each individual art is oriented toward money, since they aim to earn money through their work or craft. Doctors, craftsmen, builders, and even soldiers, when they become mercenaries, aim to earn money. Therefore, it is fitting for anyone who wishes to live a political life to provide for their domestic needs and to care about acquiring money, according to what their status requires; among kings and princes, however, only two paths seem to be useful. Namely, the possessory and the experimental. For they should be knowledgeable, either by themselves or through others, about the specific conditions of the kingdom and the particular deeds of their predecessors, according to which they lawfully acquired money. For they ought to maintain the commendable customs of the kingdom, according to which they can obtain lawful revenues, without usurping the goods of others. Therefore, consideration of particular deeds, approved customs, and practical methods is useful for kings and princes in acquiring money. Thus, the method of possession is useful not only in immovable possessions, such as fields and vineyards, and other similar things, but also in movable possessions. It's fitting for them to thrive with a multitude of beasts and also birds, through which they can meet the needs of life. For we have seen Emperor Frederick, who was renowned for his great secular wisdom, to have many resources, despite ruling over the most fertile lands where food was available at a low price; nonetheless, he always preferred to obtain food from his own resources, both from beasts and from birds. Therefore, it's appropriate for kings and princes to provide examples to others in the kingdom, so that they do not appear to live like strangers and foreigners. For whoever buys individual food with money lives more like a stranger than as a citizen. Thus, it's fitting for kings and princes to have industrious people overseeing the cultivation of fields and vineyards, as well as the care of livestock and the multitude of sheep and other animals that serve the needs of life, not only quadrupeds but also birds: just as it is customary in some places to have a multitude of doves or other birds from which domestic food is obtained. Thus too, as the Philosopher states in Politics. He says that it is necessary to focus on the cultivation of bees if those parts are to be fruitful: for much fruit is gathered from bees in suitable locations with minimal expenses. Therefore, to sum up, civil life is always better for those who wish to live politically than a life of wandering: and having food from one's own resources is more commendable than buying individual items with money.