For my own part, I had rather suffer any inconvenience from having to work occasionally in chambers and kitchen ... than witness the subservience in which the menial class is held in Europe.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Martineau prefers physical labor over witnessing the systemic subjugation of the working class in Europe.
- In plain terms
- She would rather work hard than see servants treated like property.
- What can you take from it?
- Physical labor is more dignified than enforcing social subservience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is physical work always more dignified than administrative work?
- How do we measure social subservience today?
Another view
The quote assumes labor is inherently more noble than management or oversight.
More from Harriet Martineau
If a test of civilization be sought, none can be so sure as the condition of that half of society over which the other half has power.
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