Being equal Quote by Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune
“If the land was divided among all the inhabitants of a country, so that each of them possessed precisely the quantity necessary for his support, and nothing more; it is evident that all of them being equal, no one would work for another. Neither would any of them possess wherewith to pay another for his labour, for each person having only such a quantity of land as was necessary to produce a subsistence, would consume all he should gather, and would not have any thing to give in exchange for the labour of others.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Reflections on the Formation and Distribution of Land, 1770
If everyone owned just enough land to survive, there would be no surplus to trade, eliminating the need for labor exchange and creating a self‑sufficient society.
In simple terms: Equal land ownership removes trade and labor dependence.
Key Takeaway
Consider how resource distribution shapes economic relations.
Themes
economics
equality
property
labor
self‑sufficiency
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
economic
When to use this quote
- rural communities
- policy design
- utopian experiments
- resource allocation
Key Concepts
tributism
subsistence economics
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What would motivate people if all needs are met?
- Can equality coexist with personal ambition?
A Different Perspective
Assumes no desire for luxury or innovation beyond subsistence.
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![“[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” quote by Tyler Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg)
