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Workers, the most absolutely necessary part of the whole social structure, without whose services none can either eat, or clothe, or shelter himself, are just the ones who get the least to eat, to wear, and to be housed withal - to say nothing of their share of the other social benefits which the rest of us are supposed to furnish, such as education and artistic gratification.

Voltairine de Cleyre#46

JusticeWorkInequalityValueWorkers

About this quote

What does it mean?
Workers are essential to society but receive the least share of resources and benefits.
In plain terms
Those who build society get the least food, clothing, and housing.
What can you take from it?
Essential labor is often undervalued and undercompensated.

Where it applies

  • wage negotiations
  • policy making
  • labor rights

Putting it to work

  • demand fair wages
  • recognize essential work
  • support worker benefits

Questions to consider

  • How do we value essential work?
  • Why does necessity not guarantee reward?

Another view

The quote generalizes all workers without noting sector differences.

More from Voltairine de Cleyre

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  2. There is one common struggle against those who have appropriated the earth, the money, and the machines.

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  3. Every person who ever thought he had a right to assert, and went boldly and asserted it, himself, or jointly with others that shared his convictions, was a dir…

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