45。 Thus labour； in the beginning； gave a right of property；
wherever any one was pleased to employ it； upon what was common； which
remained a long while； the far greater part； and is yet more than
mankind makes use of Men at first； for the most part； contented
themselves with what unassisted Nature offered to their necessities；
and though afterwards； in some parts of the world； where the
increase of people and stock； with the use of money； had made land
scarce； and so of some value； the several communities settled the
bounds of their distinct territories； and； by laws； within themselves；
regulated the properties of the private men of their society； and
so； by compact and agreement； settled the property which labour and
industry began。 And the leagues that have been made between several
states and kingdoms； either expressly or tacitly disowning all claim
and right to the land in the other's possession； have； by common
consent； given up their pretences to their natural common right； which
originally they had to those countries； and so have； by positive
agreement； settled a property amongst themselves； in distinct parts of
the world； yet there are still great tracts of ground to be found；
which the inhabitants thereof； not having joined with the rest of
mankind in the consent of the use of their common money； lie waste；
and are more than the people who dwell on it； do； or can make use
of； and so still lie in common； though this can scarce happen
amongst that part of mankind that have consented to the use of money。
46。 The greatest part of things really useful to the life of man；
and such as the necessity of subsisting made the first commoners of
the world look after… as it doth the Americans now… are generally
things of short duration； such as… if they are not consumed by use…
will decay and perish of themselves。 Gold； silver； and diamonds are
things that fancy or agreement hath put the value on； more than real
use and the necessary support of life。 Now of those good things
which Nature hath provided in common； every one hath a right （as
hath been said） to as much as he could use； and had a property in
all he could effect with his labour； all that his industry could
extend to； to alter from the state Nature had put it in； was his。 He
that gathered a hundred bushels of acorns or apples had thereby a
property in them； they were his goods as soon as gathered。 He was only
to look that he used them before they spoiled； else he took more
than his share； and robbed others。 And； indeed； it was a foolish
thing； as well as dishonest； to hoard up more than he could make use
of If he gave away a part to anybody else； so that it perished not
uselessly in his possession； these he also made use of And if he
also bartered away plums that would have rotted in a week； for nuts
that would last good for his eating a whole year； he did no injury； he
wasted not the common stock； destroyed no part of the portion of goods
that belonged to others； so long as nothing perished uselessly in
his hands。 Again； if he would give his nuts for a piece of metal；
pleased with its colour； or exchange his sheep for shells； or wool for
a sparkling pebble or a diamond； and keep those by him all his life；
he invaded not the right of others； he might heap up as much of
these durable things as he pleased； the exceeding of the bounds of his
just property not lying in the largeness of his possession； but the
perishing of anything uselessly in it。
47。 And thus came in the use of money； some lasting thing that men
might keep without spoiling； and that； by mutual consent； men would
take in exchange for the truly useful but perishable supports of life。
48。 And as different degrees of industry were apt to give men
possessions in different proportions； so this invention of money
gave them the opportunity to continue and enlarge them。 For
supposing an island； separate from all possible commerce with the rest
of the world； wherein there were but a hundred families； but there
were sheep； horses； and cows； with other useful animals； wholesome
fruits； and land enough for corn for a hundred thousand times as many；
but nothing in the island； either because of its commonness or
perishableness； fit to supply the place of money。 What reason could
any one have there to enlarge his possessions beyond the use of his
family； and a plentiful supply to its consumption； either in what
their own industry produced； or they could barter for like perishable；
useful commodities with others？ Where there is not something both
lasting and scarce； and so valuable to be hoarded up； there men will
not be apt to enlarge their possessions of land； were it never so
rich； never so free for them to take。 For I ask； what would a man
value ten thousand or an hundred thousand acres of excellent land；
ready cultivated and well stocked； too； with cattle； in the middle
of the inland parts of America； where he had no hopes of commerce with
other parts of the world； to draw money to him by the sale of the
product？ It would not be worth the enclosing； and we should see him
give up again to the wild common of Nature whatever was more than
would supply the conveniences of life； to be had there for him and his
family。
49。 Thus； in the beginning； all the world was America； and more so
than that is now； for no such thing as money was anywhere known。
Find out something that hath the use and value of money amongst his
neighbours； you shall see the same man will begin presently to enlarge
his possessions。
50。 But； since gold and silver； being little useful to the life of
man； in proportion to food； raiment； and carriage； has its value
only from the consent of men… whereof labour yet makes in great part
the measure… it is plain that the consent of men have agreed to a
disproportionate and unequal possession of the earth… I mean out of
the bounds of society and compact； for in governments the laws
regulate it； they having； by consent； found out and agreed in a way
how a man may； rightfully and without injury； possess more than he
himself can make use of by receiving gold and silver； which may
continue long in a man's possession without decaying for the overplus；
and agreeing those metals should have a value。
51。 And thus； I think； it is very easy to conceive； without any
difficulty； how labour could at first begin a title of property in the
common things of Nature； and how the spending it upon our uses bounded
it； so that there could then be no reason of quarrelling about title；
nor any doubt about the largeness of possession it gave。 Right and
conveniency went together。 For as a man had a right to all he could
employ his labour upon； so he had no temptation to labour for more
than he could make use of。 This left no room for controversy about
the title； nor for encroachment on the right of others。 What portion
a man carved to himself was easily seen； and it was useless； as well
as dishonest； to carve himself too much； or take more than he needed。
Chapter VI
Of Paternal Power
52。 IT may perhaps be censured an impertinent criticism in a
discourse of this nature to find fault with words and names that
have obtained in the world。 And yet possibly it may not be amiss to
offer new ones when the old are apt to lead men into mistakes； as this
of paternal power probably has done； which seems so to place the power
of parents over their children wholly in the father； as if the
mother had no share in it； whereas if we consult reason or revelation；
we shall find she has an equal title； which may give one reason to ask
whether this might not be more properly called parental power？ For
whatever obligation Nature and the right of generation lays on
children； it must certainly bind them equal to both the concurrent
causes of it。 And accordingly we see the positive law of God
everywhere joins them together without distinction； when it commands
the obedience of children： 〃Honour thy father and thy mother〃 （Exod。
20。 12）； 〃Whosoever curseth his father or his mother〃 （Lev。 20。 9）；
〃Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father〃 （Lev。 19。 3）；
〃Children； obey your parents〃 （Eph。 6。 1）； etc。； is the style of the
Old and New Testament。
53。 Had but this one thing been well considered without looking
any deeper into the matter； it might perhaps have kept men from
running into those gross mistakes they have made about this power of
parents； which however it might without any great harshness bear the
name of absolute dominion and regal authority； when under the title of
〃paternal〃 power； it seemed appropriated to the father； would yet have
sounded but oddly； and in the very name shown the absurdity； if this
supposed absolute power over children had been called parental； and
thereby discovered that it belonged to the mother too。 For it will but
very ill serve the turn of those men who contend so much for the
absolute power and authority of the fatherhood； as they call it；
that the mother should have any share in it。 And it would have but ill
supported the monarchy they contend for； when by the very name it
appeared that that fundamental authority from whence they would derive
their government of a single person only was not placed in one； but
two persons jointly。 But to let this of names pass。
54。 Though I have said above （2） 〃That all men by nature are equal；〃
I cannot be supposed to understand all sorts of 〃equality。〃 Age or
virtue may give men a just precedency。 Excellency of parts and merit
may place others above the common level。 Birth may subject some； and
alliance or benefits others； to pay an observance to those to whom
Nature； gratitude； or other respects； may have made it due； and yet
all this consists with the equality which all men are in respect of
jurisdiction or dominion one over another； which was the equality I
there spoke of as proper to the business in hand； being that equal
right that every man hath to his natural freedom； without being
subjected to the will or authority of a