Absolutely nothing Quote by Charles Dunoyer
“What must never be lost sight of is that a public functionary, in his capacity as functionary, produces absolutely nothing; that, on the contrary, he exists only on the products of the industrious class; and that he can consume nothing that has not been taken from the producers.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Political Economy, 19th century
The quote argues that public officials produce no value themselves and live solely on the labor of producers.
In simple terms: Public officials depend on workers' output.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the labor behind public services.
Themes
economics
politics
class
labor
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- tax policy
- government budgeting
- public sector reforms
Key Concepts
exploitation
public finance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can public service be made more contributive?
- What mechanisms ensure fair compensation for workers?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks officials who add value through governance and regulation.
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
