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y Scopas and a block of marble。 The genius of the simplest mechanic exerts as much influence over the materials which he uses； as does the mind of a Newton over the inert spheres whose distances； volumes； and revolutions he calculates。 You ask for talent and genius a corresponding degree of honor and reward。 Fix for me the value of a wood…cutter's talent； and I will fix that of Homer。 If any thing can reward intelligence； it is intelligence itself。 That is what happens； when various classes of producers pay to each other a reciprocal tribute of admiration and praise。 But if they contemplate an exchange of products with a view to satisfying mutual needs； this exchange must be effected in accordance with a system of economy which is indifferent to considerations of talent and genius； and whose laws are deduced； not from vague and meaningless admiration； but from a just balance between DEBIT and CREDIT； in short； from commercial accounts。
Now； that no one may imagine that the liberty of buying and selling is the sole basis of the equality of wages； and that society's sole protection against superiority of talent lies in a certain force of inertia which has nothing in common with right； I shall proceed to explain why all capacities are entitled to the same reward； and why a corresponding difference in wages would be an injustice。 I shall prove that the obligation to stoop to the social level is inherent in talent； and on this very superiority of genius I will found the equality of fortunes。 I have just given the negative argument in favor of rewarding all capacities alike； I will now give the direct and positive argument。
Listen； first； to the economist： it is always pleasant to see how he reasons； and how he understands justice。 Without him； moreover； without his amusing blunders and his wonderful arguments； we should learn nothing。 Equality； so odious to the economist； owes every thing to political economy。
〃When the parents of a physician ＇the text says a lawyer； which is not so good an example＇ have expended on his education forty thousand francs； this sum may be regarded as so much capital invested in his head。 It is therefore permissible to consider it as yielding an annual income of four thousand francs。 If the physician earns thirty thousand； there remains an income of twenty…six thousand francs due to the personal talents given him by Nature。 This natural capital； then； if we assume ten per cent。 as the rate of interest； amounts to two hundred and sixty thousand francs； and the capital given him by his parents； in defraying the expenses of his education； to forty thousand francs。 The union of these two kinds of capital constitutes his fortune。〃Say： Complete Course； &c。
Say divides the fortune of the physician into two parts： one is composed of the capital which went to pay for his education； the other represents his personal talents。 This division is just； it is in conformity with the nature of things； it is universally admitted； it serves as the major premise of that grand argument which establishes the inequality of capacities。 I accept this premise without qualification； let us look at the consequences。
1。 Say CREDITS the physician with forty thousand francs；the cost of his education。 This amount should be entered upon the DEBIT side of the account。 For； although this expense was incurred for him； it was not incurred by him。 Then； instead of appropriating these forty thousand francs； the physician should add them to the price of his product； and repay them to those who are entitled to them。 Notice； further； that Say speaks of INCOME instead of REIMBURSEMENT； reasoning on the false principle of the productivity of capital。 The expense of educating a talent is a debt contracted by this talent。 From the very fact of its existence； it becomes a debtor to an amount equal to the cost of its production。 This is so true and simple that； if the education of some one child in a family has cost double or triple that of its brothers； the latter are entitled to a proportional amount of the property previous to its division。 There is no difficulty about this in the case of guardianship； when the estate is administered in the name of the minors。
2。 That which I have just said of the obligation incurred by talent of repaying the cost of its education does not embarrass the economist。 The man of talent； he says； inheriting from his family； inherits among other things a claim to the forty thousand francs which his education costs； and he becomes； in consequence； its proprietor。 But this is to abandon the right of talent； and to fall back upon the right of occupancy； which again calls up all the questions asked in Chapter II。 What is the right of occupancy？ what is inheritance？ Is the right of succession a right of accumulation or only a right of choice？ how did the physician's father get his fortune？ was he a proprietor； or only a usufructuary？ If he was rich； let him account for his wealth； if he was poor； how could he incur so large an expense？ If he received aid； what right had he to use that aid to the disadvantage of his benefactors； &c。？
3。 〃There remains an income of twenty…six thousand francs due to the personal talents given him by Nature。〃 （Say；as above quoted。） Reasoning from this premise； Say concludes that our physician's talent is equivalent to a capital of two hundred and sixty thousand francs。 This skilful calculator mistakes a consequence for a principle。 The talent must not be measured by the gain； but rather the gain by the talent； for it may happen； that； notwithstanding his merit； the physician in question will gain nothing at all； in which case will it be necessary to conclude that his talent or fortune is equivalent to zero？ To such a result； however； would Say's reasoning lead； a result which is clearly absurd。
Now； it is impossible to place a money value on any talent whatsoever； since talent and money have no common measure。 On what plausible ground can it be maintained that a physician should be paid two； three； or a hundred times as much as a peasant？ An unavoidable difficulty； which has never been solved save by avarice； necessity； and oppression。 It is not thus that the right of talent should be determined。 But how is it to be determined？
4。 I say； first； that the physician must be treated with as much favor as any other producer； that he must not be placed below the level of others。 This I will not stop to prove。 But I add that neither must he be lifted above that level； because his talent is collective property for which he did not pay； and for which he is ever in debt。
Just as the creation of every instrument of production is the result of collective force； so also are a man's talent and knowledge the product of universal intelligence and of general knowledge slowly accumulated by a number of masters； and through the aid of many inferior industries。 When the physician has paid for his teachers； his books； his diplomas； and all the other items of his educational expenses； he has no more paid for his talent than the capitalist pays for his house and land when he gives his employees their wages。 The man of talent has contributed to the production in himself of a useful instrument。 He has； then； a share in its possession； he is not its proprietor。 There exist side by side in him a free laborer and an accumulated social capital。 As a laborer； he is charged with the use of an instrument； with the superintendence of a machine； namely； his capacity。 As capital； he is not his own master； he uses himself； not for his own benefit； but for that of others。
Even if talent did not find in its own excellence a reward for the sacrifices which it costs； still would it be easier to find reasons for lowering its reward than for raising it above the common level。 Every producer receives an education； every laborer is a talent； a capacity；that is； a piece of collective property。 But all talents are not equally costly。 It takes but few teachers； but few years； and but little study； to make a farmer or a mechanic： the generative effort andif I may venture to use such languagethe period of social gestation are proportional to the loftiness of the capa