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I hold that if the Almighty had ever made a set of men…

“I hold that if the Almighty had ever made a set of men that should do all the eating and none of the work, he would have made them with mouths only and no hands, and if he had ever made another class that he intended should do all the work and none of the eating, he would have made them without…” quote by Abraham Lincoln
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“I hold that if the Almighty had ever made a set of men that should do all the eating and none of the work, he would have made them with mouths only and no hands, and if he had ever made another class that he intended should do all the work and none of the eating, he would have made them without mouths and with all hands.”

Abraham Lincoln

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

If work and sustenance were split, humanity would be crippled; balance is essential.

In simple terms: Both work and nourishment are needed.

Key Takeaway

Seek balance between effort and reward.

Themes

balance labor resource allocation human nature

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

  • workplace
  • personal finance
  • societal policy

Key Concepts

economics ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance work and leisure?
  • What systems ensure fair distribution of labor?
A Different Perspective

Ideal balance is hard to achieve in unequal societies.

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