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certainly could not make twenty。 But in the way in which this
business is now carried on； not only the whole work is a peculiar
trade； but it is divided into a number of branches； of which the
greater part are likewise peculiar trades。 One man draws out the
wire； another straights it； a third cuts it； a fourth points it；
a fifth grinds it at the top for receiving； the head； to make the
head requires two or three distinct operations； to put it on is a
peculiar business； to whiten the pins is another； it is even a
trade by itself to put them into the paper； and the important
business of making a pin is； in this manner； divided into about
eighteen distinct operations； which； in some manufactories； are
all performed by distinct hands； though in others the same man
will sometimes perform two or three of them。 I have seen a small
manufactory of this kind where ten men only were employed； and
where some of them consequently performed two or three distinct
operations。 But though they were very poor； and therefore but
indifferently accommodated with the necessary machinery； they
could； when they exerted themselves； make among them about twelve
pounds of pins in a day。 There are in a pound upwards of four
thousand pins of a middling size。 Those ten persons； therefore；
could make among them upwards of forty…eight thousand pins in a
day。 Each person； therefore； making a tenth part of forty…eight
thousand pins； might be considered as making four thousand eight
hundred pins in a day。 But if they had all wrought separately and
independently； and without any of them having been educated to
this peculiar business； they certainly could not each of them
have made twenty； perhaps not one pin in a day； that is；
certainly； not the two hundred and fortieth； perhaps not the four
thousand eight hundredth part of what they are at present capable
of performing； in consequence of a proper division and
combination of their different operations。
In every other art and manufacture； the effects of the
division of labour are similar to what they are in this very
trifling one； though； in many of them； the labour can neither be
so much subdivided； nor reduced to so great a simplicity of
operation。 The division of labour； however； so far as it can be
introduced； occasions； in every art； a proportionable increase of
the productive powers of labour。 The separation of different
trades and employments from one another seems to have taken place
in consequence of this advantage。 This separation； too； is
generally called furthest in those countries which enjoy the
highest degree of industry and improvement； what is the work of
one man in a rude state of society being generally that of
several in an improved one。 In every improved society； the farmer
is generally nothing but a farmer； the manufacturer； nothing but
a manufacturer。 The labour； too； which is necessary to produce
any one complete manufacture is almost always divided among a
great number of hands。 How many different trades are employed in
each branch of the linen and woollen manufactures from the
growers of the flax and the wool； to the bleachers and smoothers
of the linen； or to the dyers and dressers of the cloth！ The
nature of agriculture； indeed； does not admit of so many
subdivisions of labour； nor of so complete a separation of one
business from another； as manufactures。 It is impossible to
separate so entirely the business of the grazier from that of the
corn…farmer as the trade of the carpenter is commonly separated
from that of the smith。 The spinner is almost always a distinct
person from the weaver； but the ploughman； the harrower； the
sower of the seed； and the reaper of the corn； are often the
same。 The occasions for those different sorts of labour returning
with the different seasons of the year； it is impossible that one
man should be constantly employed in any one of them。 This
impossibility of making so complete and entire a separation of
all the different branches of labour employed in agriculture is
perhaps the reason why the improvement of the productive powers
of labour in this art does not always keep pace with their
improvement in manufactures。 The most opulent nations； indeed；
generally excel all their neighbours in agriculture as well as in
manufactures； but they are commonly more distinguished by their
superiority in the latter than in the former。 Their lands are in
general better cultivated； and having more labour and expense
bestowed upon them； produce more in proportion to the extent and
natural fertility of the ground。 But this superiority of produce
is seldom much more than in proportion to the superiority of
labour and expense。 In agriculture； the labour of the rich
country is not always much more productive than that of the poor；
or； at least； it is never so much more productive as it commonly
is in manufactures。 The corn of the rich country； therefore； will
not always； in the same degree of goodness； come cheaper to
market than that of the poor。 The corn of Poland； in the same
degree of goodness； is as cheap as that of France；
notwithstanding the superior opulence and improvement of the
latter country。 The corn of France is； in the corn provinces；
fully as good； and in most years nearly about the same price with
the corn of England； though； in opulence and improvement； France
is perhaps inferior to England。 The corn…lands of England；
however； are better cultivated than those of France； and the
corn…lands of France are said to be much better cultivated than
those of Poland。 But though the poor country； notwithstanding the
inferiority of its cultivation； can； in some measure； rival the
rich in the cheapness and goodness of its corn； it can pretend to
no such competition in its manufactures； at least if those
manufactures suit the soil； climate； and situation of the rich
country。 The silks of France are better and cheaper than those of
England； because the silk manufacture； at least under the present
high duties upon the importation of raw silk； does not so well
suit the climate of England as that of France。 But the hardware
and the coarse woollens of England are beyond all comparison
superior to those of France； and much cheaper too in the same
degree of goodness。 In Poland there are said to be scarce any
manufactures of any kind； a few of those coarser household
manufactures excepted； without which no country can well subsist。
This great increase of the quantity of work which； in
consequence of the division of labour； the same number of people
are capable of performing； is owing to three different
circumstances； first； to the increase of dexterity in every
particular workman； secondly； to the saving of the time which is
commonly lost in passing from one species of work to another； and
lastly； to the invention of a great number of machines which
facilitate and abridge labour； and enable one man to do the work
of many。
First； the improvement of the dexterity of the workman
necessarily increases the quantity of the work he can perform；
and the division of labour； by reducing every man's business to
some one simple operation； and by making this operation the sole
employment of his life； necessarily increased very much dexterity
of the workman。 A common smith； who； though accustomed to handle
the hammer； has never been used to make nails； if upon some
particular occasion he is obliged to attempt it； will scarce； I
am assured； be able to make above two or three hundred nails in a
day； and those too very bad ones。 A smith who has been accustomed
to make nails； but whose sole or principal business has not been
that of a nailer； can seldom with his utmost diligence make more
than eight hundred or a thousand nails in a day。 I have seen
several boys under twenty years of age who had never exercised
any other trade but that of making nails； and who； when they
exerted themselves； could make； each of them； upwards of two
thousand three hundred nails in a day。 The making of a nail；
however； is by no means one of the simplest operations。 The same
person blows the bellows； stirs or mends the fire as there is
occasion； heats the iron； and forges every part of the nail： in
forging the head too he is obliged to change his tools。 The
different operations into which the making of a pin； or of a
metal button； is subdivided； are all of them much more simple；
and the dexterity of the person； of whose life it has been the
sole business to perform them； is usually much greater。 The
rapidity with which some of the operations of those manufacturers
are performed； exceeds what the human hand could； by those who
had never seen them； be supposed capable of acquiring。
Secondly； the advantage which is gained by saving the time
commonly lost in passing from one sort of work to another is much
greater than we should at first view be apt to imagine it。 It is
impossible to pass very qu