--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In prosperous times, the marginal workers…" description: "\"In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in tough times, they get the shaft.\" — Bill O'Reilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg" --- # In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in… ![“In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in tough times, they get the shaft.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg) > “In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in tough times, they get the shaft.” [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. During good times, low‑skill workers survive; during crises, they are exploited. **In simple terms:** Marginal workers suffer more in tough times. Key Takeaway Support safety nets for vulnerable workers. Themes economics inequality labor Mood critical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - policy analysis - social advocacy - employment counseling Key Concepts social safety net economic downturns Questions to Reflect On - What policies could protect marginal workers? - How do economic cycles affect different job sectors? A Different Perspective The claim may oversimplify complex factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marginal/) [Prosperous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tough times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-times/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [Successful people save in prosperous times so they have a financial cushion in times of recession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/successful-people-save-in-prosperous-times-so-they-have-a-financial/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Even in prosperous times the living robbed the dead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-murray/even-in-prosperous-times-the-living-robbed-the-dead/) [Jocelyn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-murray/) > [Unions are at a disadvantage in a company vote because the employees can see that the greatest advocates of unionization are often the malcontents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/unions-are-at-a-disadvantage-in-a-company-vote-because-the-employees/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [In the prosperous times, you put it in your pocket; in the lean times, you put it in your heart and that's when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/in-the-prosperous-times-you-put-it-in-your-pocket-in-the-lean-times/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [I do think there is room at the very top for marginal tax changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-think-there-is-room-at-the-very-top-for-marginal-tax-changes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have to say there are a lot of me-too products and companies. Yet another social network, of the 15th flavor - that's common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/i-have-to-say-there-are-a-lot-of-me-too-products-and-companies-yet/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [The marginal cost of doing something 'just this once' always seems to be negligible, but the full cost will typically be much higher. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-marginal-cost-of-doing-something-just-this-once-always-seems-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Creation stories, so central in the religions of the Middle East, play a surprisingly marginal part in Greek myth. The Greeks had nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/creation-stories-so-central-in-the-religions-of-the-middle-east-play/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [I'm still a marginal figure living from book to book, but, as long as I'm producing labour as a good Marxist prole, I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-m-still-a-marginal-figure-living-from-book-to-book-but-as-long-as-i/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [“He thought: that's certainly how it starts. One day a person puts his legs up on a bench, then night comes and he falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-thought-that-s-certainly-how-it-starts-one-day-a-person-puts-his/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The margin is very marginal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-robson/the-margin-is-very-marginal/) [Bobby Robson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-robson/) > [Throughout the industrial era, economists considered manufactured capital - money, factories, etc. - the principal factor in industrial production, and perceived natural capital as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/throughout-the-industrial-era-economists-considered-manufactured/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/science-is-not-marginal-like-art-it-is-a-universal-possession-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“Outer happiness has Diminishing Marginal Utility; the more it grows, the satisfaction decreases. Resort to inner happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/outer-happiness-has-diminishing-marginal-utility-the-more-it-grows/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“Like symbolism, decadence puts forth the idea that the function of literature is to evoke impressions and 'correspondences', rather than to realistically depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asti-hustvedt/like-symbolism-decadence-puts-forth-the-idea-that-the-function-of/) [Asti Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asti-hustvedt/) ## More by Bill O'Reilly > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“bathroom—if you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/bathroom-if-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I think that the terrible, disgraceful coverage actually got Donald Trump elected, along with Hillary Clinton's inability to connect with voters on any level.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-think-that-the-terrible-disgraceful-coverage-actually-got-donald/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [“We'll do it live... WE'LL DO IT LIVE! FUCK IT! DO IT LIVE... look, I'll write it and we'll do it live! Fucking thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/we-ll-do-it-live-we-ll-do-it-live-fuck-it-do-it-live-look-i-ll-write/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Alaskans are basically 'leave me alone' type people who respect and embrace different strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/alaskans-are-basically-leave-me-alone-type-people-who-respect-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-should-be-able-to-pass-a-fair/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I'm just a loud Irish guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-m-just-a-loud-irish-guy/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Growing up under the heavy hand of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it was drummed into me that attending weekly mass was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/growing-up-under-the-heavy-hand-of-the-school-sisters-of-notre-dame/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people. Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-truth-is-that-many-powerful-guys-have-fooled-around-while-working/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [They established their patriotic credentials long ago, and are either supportive of the Bush agenda or know when to keep their traps shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/they-established-their-patriotic-credentials-long-ago-and-are-either/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Many Americans simply don't want the pinheads in Washington or the various state capitals to be telling us how to live. But we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/many-americans-simply-don-t-want-the-pinheads-in-washington-or-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Do the atheists in Wisconsin realize they're going to Hell? Did you ask them that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/do-the-atheists-in-wisconsin-realize-they-re-going-to-hell-did-you/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) [Explore all 265 Bill O'Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) ## More Get quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) John Whiting > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) Browse all 15,894 Get quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in tough times, they get the shaft.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill O'Reilly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers-get-by-but-in-tough-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Get" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers-get-by-but-in-tough-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa8/bill-o-reilly-1019_get_in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers_1066722.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In prosperous times, the marginal workers get by. But in tough times, they get the shaft.” — Bill O'Reilly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill O'Reilly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In prosperous times, the marginal workers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers-get-by-but-in-tough-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/in-prosperous-times-the-marginal-workers-get-by-but-in-tough-times/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```