&gt;

ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES

It is to be noted that satiety, in the true sense of that
term, is not attained so long as any additional satisfaction is
derived from further supplies. When the point is reached
where further supplies are indifferent, neither affording added
satisfaction, nor diminishing the gratification already secured
from previous supplies, the consumer may be said to be
satiated. He desires no more, but has no economic motive
for getting rid gratuitously of any part of his actual supply.
Reference is often made to satiety when a very different
condition is really meant. On account of the decreasing
serviceability of continual additions to the supply of any one
commodity, it will constantly happen that more of some
other commodity will be preferred to more of the one in
question. Variety will be preferred to mere increase of
goods of the same kind. This point of preference for other
goods is not really a point of satiety, even though no further
desire for the original class of goods be manifested till a
large amount of other goods has been secured. At best it
could be designated a point of relative satiety, Itis
certainly not to be called absolute satiety so long as any
further satisfaction accrues from added supplies, as stated
above.
The infinite variety of human wants is a feature worth
special notice, and has often been a subject of comment.
Rarely are goods consumed to the point of absolute satiety.
Before that is reached, the means available for procuring the
supplies which would bring satiation, are directed to procuring
 the means of gratifying some other taste or need.
Attention has been given by several writers to the order in
which wants thus secure attention. Food, clothing, and
shelter are the most imperative needs of human existence,
but no very great amount of means need be expended to
avert fear of suffering from sheer hunger or nakedness. In
respect of variety, however, desire for food and clothing is
very expansive, and both of these, as well as shelter, account
for large expenditures where the desire to procure distinction
affects the amount and kind of expenditure as well as the
simple needs for life-preservation. Apart, too, from the
desire for distinction, as the result of conspicuous consumption