Where people work longest and with least leisure, they buy…
“Where people work longest and with least leisure, they buy the fewest goods. No towns were so poor as those of England where the people, from children up, worked fifteen and sixteen hours a day. They were poor because these overworked people soon wore out -- they became less and less valuable as workers. Therefore, they earned less and less and could buy less and less.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Excessive work hours reduce worker health and productivity, leading to lower earnings and consumption.
In simple terms: Overwork harms workers and the economy.
Key Takeaway
Limit work hours to improve welfare.
Themes
labor
economics
health
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
economic
social
When to use this quote
- industrial factories
- gig economy
- low‑wage jobs
- seasonal labor
Key Concepts
productivity
worker exploitation
poverty cycle
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance productivity and worker health?
- What policies protect overworked laborers?
A Different Perspective
Shorter hours may reduce output for some industries.