Thus the labour of a manufacture adds, generally, to the…
“Thus the labour of a manufacture adds, generally, to the value of the materials which he works upon, that of his own maintenance, and of his masters profits. The labour of a menial servant, on the contrary, adds to the value of nothing.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Labor that creates value adds to material worth, sustains the worker, and yields profit; menial labor adds none.
In simple terms: Value‑creating work boosts material worth and profit; menial work does not.
Key Takeaway
Focus on productive labor.
Themes
economics
labor
value creation
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
economic
When to use this quote
- business planning
- career development
- investment decisions
- policy making
Key Concepts
value theory
production
class analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess the value of your work?
- What tasks could be more value‑creating?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all labor can be clearly classified as productive or menial.