nity cannot be judged by
the amount and kind of wealth produced or by the methods in production or
by the distribution of ownership. These may be significant in showing the
trend of social customs as to individual control, but the last inquiry
will still have to be, What welfare comes to the entire community when all
this wealth is used? Moreover, no analysis of qualities in any substance
called wealth can measure the welfare involved in its use. Its relation to
the individual using it and his relation to the whole community, with a
careful analysis of wants met and character developed, must be considered.
The final question is, How many and what kind of wants are satisfied?

_Use of wealth individual._--It is necessary to realize that the social
organization is maintained solely for the sake of individuals. All study
of welfare and illfare is a study of individual human beings. The mutual
relations of these human beings in society are means to individual life,
growth and enjoyment. Even the total power of a generation in society is
dependent upon how the individual wants of individual members of that
society are met. Some of the greatest mistakes in estimating social
welfare arise from overlooking the essential individuality of wants, upon
which all wealth depends for its use.

This individuality makes the proper consumption of wealth largely a
question of right and wrong. The possessor of any form of wealth is
obliged to recognize his place in society as a promoter of welfare, and
society compels, as far as it is able, a recognition of individual needs.
Yet the very nature of consumption, as concerned with individual wants,
makes individual judgment supreme in the use of wealth. It is my ideal of
good health, high culture and sound morals that must be met for my
enjoyment. My welfare, so long as I have rational powers, is the meeting
of my ideal. Society rightly hesitates to interfere with my ideals by
force as long as my actions do not disturb the welfare of my neighbors.
The necessity of human liberty for actual welfare limits the control of
society to very evident infringements upon others' welfare in every
activity, including the use of wealth as well as other powers. This very
restriction is in the interest of highest total enjoyment of welfare in
the whole community.

_Individual responsibility for use of wealth._--In estimating the proper
uses of wealth, it is necessary to remember that mere animal existence i