Well, then, we must turn the wisdom of the economists the other way up. We must say over-production of wealth _cannot_ make poverty, for that means that the more of a thing is produced the less of that thing there is; and we must say that under-consumption _cannot_ cause poverty, for that means that the more of a loaf you eat the more you will have left. Such rubbish as that may do for statesmen and editors, but it is of no use to sensible men and women. Let us see if we cannot think a little better for ourselves than these very superior persons have thought for us. I think that we, without being at all clever or learned, may get nearer to the truth than some of those who pass for great men. Now, what is it we have to find out? We want to know how the British people may make the best of their country and themselves. We know they are not making the best of either at present. There must, therefore, be something wrong. Our business is to find out what is wrong, and how it may be righted. We will begin by asking ourselves three questions, and by trying to answer them. These questions are-- 1. What is wealth? 2. Where does wealth come from? 3. Where does wealth go to? First, then, what _is_ wealth? There is no need to go into long and confusing explanations; there is no use in splitting hairs. We want an answer that is short and simple, and at the same time good enough for the purpose. I should say, then, that wealth is all those things which we use. Mr. Ruskin uses two words, "wealth" and "illth." He divides the things which it is good for us to have from the things which it is not good for us to have, and he calls the good things "wealth" and the bad things "illth"--or ill things. Thus opium prepared for smoking is illth, because it does harm or works "ill" to all who smoke it; but opium prepared as medicine is wealth, because it saves life or stays pain. A dynamite bomb is "illth," for it is used to destroy life, but a dynamite cartridge is wealth, for it is used in getting slate or coal. Mr. Ruskin is right, and if we are to make the best of our country and of ourselves, we ought clearly to give up producing bad things, or "illth," and produce more good things, or wealth. But, for our purpose, it will be simpler and shorter to call all things we use wealth. Thus a good book is wealth and a bad book "illth"; but as it is not easy to agree as to which books are good, which bad, and which indifferent, we had better call all books wealth. By this word wealth, then, when we use it in this book, we shall mean all the things we use. Thus we shall put down as wealth all such things as food, clothing, fuel, houses, ornaments, musical instruments, arms, tools, machinery, books, horses, dogs, medicines, toys, ships, trains, coaches, tobacco, churches, hospitals, lighthouses, theatres, shops, and all other things that we _use_. Now comes our second question: Where does wealth come from?