John Taylor on the Political State of Agriculture

"The political causes which oppress agriculture have been considered, before domestic habits which vitiate it, to guard against the error of an opinion, that the latter may be removed, whilst the former continue.  So long as the laws make it more profitable to invest capital in speculations without labour, than in agriculture with labour; and so long as the liberty of pursuing one's own interest exist; the two strongest human propensities, a love of wealth, and a love of ease, will render it impossible"

John Taylor

(Arator: Essay 12)