Calling Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
“Labor is like motherhood to most of our political leaders: a calling so fine and noble that it would be sullied by talk of vulgar, mundane things like pay.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich, 2001
Labor is portrayed as a noble, almost sacred duty, making discussions of wages seem disrespectful.
In simple terms: Work is seen as noble, so pay feels cheap.
Key Takeaway
Recognize labor’s real value beyond idealism.
Themes
labor
politics
economics
morality
class
Mood
critical
reflective
serious
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- union negotiations
- media commentary
- public speeches
Key Concepts
capitalism
dignity
exploitation
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing work as noble affect wage discussions?
- What are the risks of romanticizing labor?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing labor can hide unfair compensation.
![“What would it mean in practice to eliminate all the 'negative people' from one's life [as demanded by motivational speaker J.P. Maroney]? It might be a good idea to separate from a chronically carping spouse, but it is not so easy to abandon the whiny toddler, the colicky infant, or the sullen…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/187/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_abandon_what-would-it-mean-in-practice-to-elimin_140275.jpg)
![“Robert Jackall’s book [ Moral Mazes ] impressed on me that corporate dress serves a far more important function than mere body covering. “Proper management of one’s external appearances,” he writes, “simply signals to one’s superiors that one is prepared to undertake other kinds of…” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ead/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_attire_robert-jackall-s-book-moral-mazes-impres_186386.jpg)
![“You might discover that, nationwide, America's food banks are experiencing 'a torrent of need which [they] cannot meet' and that, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 67 percent of the adults requesting emergency food aid are people with jobs.” quote by Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f16/barbara-ehrenreich-1204_food_you-might-discover-that-nationwide-ameri_237473.jpg)
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
