I am not a Labor Leader; I do not want you to follow me or anyone else; if you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of this capitalist wilderness, you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into the promised land if I could, because if I lead you in, some one else would lead you out. You must use your heads as well as your hands, and get yourself out of your present condition.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Workers must think independently and organize themselves rather than rely on leaders.
- In plain terms
- Do not follow a leader blindly; solve your own problems.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-reliance and critical thinking are key to liberation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much reliance on leaders is too much?
- What does self-emancipation look like?
Another view
It underestimates the role of coordinated leadership in complex struggles.
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