290 That the Athenians left everything in the lurch to oppose Xerxes, much more readily than under Pericles, even, the flat country of Attica. _Büchsenschütz_ (Besitz und Erwerb im griech. Alterthum, 589) explains by the fact that in the interval between the two periods, fixed capital increased largely. In rude ages under the appellation of a community or nation was understood a number of men; and the state, while its members remained, was accounted entire. With polished and mercantile states, the case is sometimes reverted. The nation is a territory cultivated and improved by its owners; destroy the possession even while the master remains, the state is undone. _Ferguson_, Hist. of civil Society, V, 4; _v. Mangoldt_, Volkswirthschaftslehre, 159. Fixed capital is not so sure of being completely used up as circulating. On this point see _Schäffle_, N. Œk., 53. 291 If the aggregate productive activity of man be designated by the word labor (just as everything produced on a piece of land is inaccurately called its product), then all capital may be considered as the unconsumed result of labor. The recent socialistic theory that considers capital as the wages which have been earned but not paid, is a gross misconception of this truth. This is the origin only of the capital of oppressors and deceivers, and of theirs only in part. See _infra_, § 189. 292 “While we are clothed in our winter garments, the spring stuffs are already in the shops of retail dealers; the light material of next summer’s wear is already manufacturing, and the wool for our next winter’s clothing spun.” Think of the study in advance which the physician must have gone through, whom we summon to us at a moment’s notice! _Menger_, Grundsätze, I, § 33. seq. 293 Thus in dangerous callings, as for instance, among soldiers and sailors, there is very little saving. The same may be said of times of plague. See _J. Rae_, New Principles on the Subject of Political Economy, 1834. 294 That we keep our property under lock and key, while it was customary in Plato’s time to seal it up, is in itself a great advance. See _Becker_, Charicles, I, 202 seq. Earlier yet, artificial knots were used. _Homer_, Odyss. VII, 443. 295 Compare _Hearne_, Reise, nach Prinzwalesfort, 43, 58, 119. _Barrow von Sprengel_, 282. _Humboldt_, Relation historique, II, 245. Ausland, 1844, No. 359; 1845, No. 84. _Stein-Wappüus_, Handbuch der Geographie, I, 310. For proof that the clergy by preaching self denial contributed largely to the creation of capital in the earlier part of medieval history, see _Guórard_, Polyptiques d’Irminon Préf., 13.