--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If at any time all labour should cease…" description: "\"If at any time all labour should cease, and all existing provisions be equally divided among the people, at the end of a single year there could scarce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/abraham-lincoln-88_alive_if-at-any-time-all-labour-should-cease-a_1373659.png" --- # If at any time all labour should cease, and all existing… ![“If at any time all labour should cease, and all existing provisions be equally divided among the people, at the end of a single year there could scarcely be one human being left alive--all would have perished by want of subsistence.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/abraham-lincoln-88_alive_if-at-any-time-all-labour-should-cease-a_1373659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/abraham-lincoln-88_alive_if-at-any-time-all-labour-should-cease-a_1373659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/abraham-lincoln-88_alive_if-at-any-time-all-labour-should-cease-a_1373659.png) > “If at any time all labour should cease, and all existing provisions be equally divided among the people, at the end of a single year there could scarcely be one human being left alive--all would have perished by want of subsistence.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that if all labor stopped and resources were split equally, humanity would quickly die from lack of food, highlighting the necessity of work for survival. **In simple terms:** Work is essential for survival; equal division alone fails. Key Takeaway Ensure productive labor continues. Themes economics survival labor resource distribution human nature Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type economic philosophical When to use this quote - policy planning - resource management - education on work ethic - community support programs - economic modeling Key Concepts scarcity labor value population dynamics social contract Questions to Reflect On - Can societies survive without traditional labor? - What alternatives could prevent scarcity? A Different Perspective Ignores potential technological solutions to food production. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Subsistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsistence/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is much more equally divided than some of us imagine. 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I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... 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