Capitalism Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior ofcapital, and deserves muchthe higher consideration.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863 (paraphrased)
Labor creates value; without labor, capital cannot exist, so labor deserves higher respect.
In simple terms: Labor is the source of wealth.
Key Takeaway
Respect and prioritize workers.
Themes
economics
labor rights
capitalism
fairness
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- business
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
value creation
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies ensure labor is valued?
- What policies protect workers from exploitation?
A Different Perspective
Capital can dominate labor without regulation.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
