The purpose of beekeeping

"Bee-keeping or bee-keeping is the art of managing bees in order to get the maximum return from this work with a minimum of expenditure.
The bees produce swarms, queens, wax and honey.
Production of swarms and queens should be left to specialists.
The production of wax has some value, but this value is reduced by the cost of reproduction.
The production of honey is the main objective of beekeeping, beekeeper who pursues before anything else, because this product has been valuable, and because it can be weighed and prices.
Honey is an excellent food, a good product, best of all sweeteners. "

From the chapter opening in "Beekeeping for all" by Abbé Warré.  Translated from the French original version of L'Apiculture Pour tous (12th edition) by Patricia and David..