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Let us never weary of repeating, that to think first of…

“Let us never weary of repeating, that to think first of the disinherited and sorrowful classes; to relieve, ventilate, enlighten, and love them; to enlarge their horizon to a magnificent extent; to lavish upon them education in every shape; to set them an example of labor, and never of indolence…” quote by Victor Hugo
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““Let us never weary of repeating, that to think first of the disinherited and sorrowful classes; to relieve, ventilate, enlighten, and love them; to enlarge their horizon to a magnificent extent; to lavish upon them education in every shape; to set them an example of labor, and never of indolence; to lessen the weight of the individual burden by increasing the notion of the universal aim; to limit poverty without limiting wealth; to create vast fields of public and popular activity; to have, like Briareus, a hundred hands to stretch out on all sides to the crushed and the weak; to employ the collective power in the grand task of opening workshops for every arm, schools for every aptitude, and laboratories for every intellect; to increase wages, diminish toil, and balance the debit and credit--that is to say, proportion enjoyment to effort, and supply to demand; in a word, to evolve from the social machine, on behalf of those who suffer and those who are ignorant, more light and more comfort, is (and sympathetic souls must not forget it) the first of brotherly obligations, and (let egotistic hearts learn the fact) the first of political necessities.””

Victor Hugo

About This Quote

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

Advocates for collective responsibility to uplift the disadvantaged through education, labor, and equitable wealth distribution.

In simple terms: Society must help the poor via education and fair work.

Key Takeaway

Promote universal education and fair labor.

Themes

social justice education equity collective action politics

Mood

determined urgent

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

  • policy making
  • community organizing
  • education reform
  • labor rights

Key Concepts

social theory economic redistribution human rights

Questions to Reflect On

  • What policies best balance wealth creation with poverty reduction?
  • How can societies mobilize collective effort effectively?
A Different Perspective

Implementation can be hampered by entrenched interests and resource limits.

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