242 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

cessarily the result, were the product divided in the way
described in the hypothetical case adduced by Mr. Ricardo.

NOTE D (page 103).

The universality of the supposition, that a commodity
must itself be invariable in order to serve as a measure of
value, will appear from the following extracts.

‘¢ As a measure of quantity, such as the natural foot,
fathom, or handful, which is continually varying in its own
quantity, can never be an accurate measure of the quantity
of other things; so a commodity, which is itself continually
varying in its own value, can.never be an accurate measure
of the value of other commodities. Equal quantities of
labour at all times and places, may be said to be of equal
value to the labourer. In his ordinary state of health,
strength, and spirits, in the ordinary degree of his skill
and dexterity, he must always lay down the same portion
of his ease, his liberty, and his happiness. The price
which he pays must always be the same, whatever may be
the quantity of goods which he receives in return for it,

Of these, indeed, it may sometimes purchase a greater
and sometimes a smaller quantity ; but it is their value
which varies, not that of the labour which purchases them.

At all times and places, that is dear which it is difficult
to eome at, or which it costs much labour to acquire ; and
that cheap which is to be had easily, or with very little la-
bour. Labour alone, therefore, never varying in its own