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Everything is sold to skill and labor; and where nature…

“Everything is sold to skill and labor; and where nature furnishes the materials, they are still rude and unfinished, till industry, ever active and intelligent, refines them from their brute state, and fits them for human use and convenience.” quote by David Hume
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“Everything is sold to skill and labor; and where nature furnishes the materials, they are still rude and unfinished, till industry, ever active and intelligent, refines them from their brute state, and fits them for human use and convenience.”

David Hume

About This Quote

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

Human labor transforms raw nature into useful tools, requiring ongoing intelligent effort to refine and adapt.

In simple terms: Labor turns raw nature into useful things.

Key Takeaway

Refine and adapt natural resources.

Themes

labor industry transformation human ingenuity

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • construction
  • manufacturing
  • design
  • environmental management

Key Concepts

refinement utility craftsmanship

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does skill change raw materials?
  • What limits our ability to refine nature?
A Different Perspective

Refinement depends on skilled labor and knowledge.

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