That which was doubtful, therefore, from the first is now evident, viz. whether the art of acquiring money pertains to him who manages a family, or governs a state, or does not, but yet it is necessary that this art should exist. For as the political art does not make men, but, receiving them from nature, uses them; so, likewise, it is necessary that nature should furnish nutriment, either from the earth or the sea, or something else. It is, however, the province of the master of a family to dispose these in such a manner as is proper. For it is not the business of a weaver to make wool, but to use it, and to distinguish what is good and useful from what is bad and useless. For it may be doubted by some one, why the art of acquiring money is a part of economy, but the medical art is not; though it is as necessary that a family should be in health, as that they should live, or have any thing else that is necessary. But since it is partly the business of the master of a family and of a magistrate, to direct their attention to the health of those under their care, and partly of the physician; thus, also, with respect to riches; for an attention to them is partly the province of the master of a family, and partly of the servant. As, however, we have before observed, it is especially necessary that this should have a natural subsistence. For it is the business of nature to supply that which she produces with food; since nutriment is left to every thing by that from which it was generated. Hence, the natural riches of all men are from fruits and animals. Since, however, these riches, as we have said, are twofold, the one pertaining to money, but the other to the economic art; and the latter, indeed, is necessary and laudable, but the former is justly blamed; for it does not subsist according to nature, but from the intercourse of men with each other; hence, usury is most reasonably detested, because its acquisition is from money itself, and it does not employ money for the purpose for which it was originally intended; since it was introduced for the sake of exchange. But above all the rest, usury deserves to be hated, because gain and profit through money is obtained by it, with a view to the augmentation of money. Hence, it is called, τοκος, or that which is engendered, because things which are begotten resemble their begetters. And usury is money begotten of money; so that amongst all the means of acquiring riches, this is most contrary to nature.
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