Civil war Quote by Edmund Ruffin
“It is notorious that, whenever the demand for labor is much greater than the supply, or the wages of labor are much higher than the expenses of living, very many, even on the ordinary laboring class, are remarkable for indolence, and work no more than compelled by necessity.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Southern Economy, 1855
When wages exceed living costs, many workers become lazy, working only when forced by need.
In simple terms: High wages can lead to laziness among workers.
Key Takeaway
Encourage productivity beyond mere necessity.
Themes
economics
labor
motivation
productivity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
economic
When to use this quote
- employment policy
- wage setting
- worker motivation
- business management
Key Concepts
incentive theory
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can employers motivate workers beyond basic pay?
- What non‑financial incentives are effective?
A Different Perspective
Higher wages may not guarantee higher output without proper incentives.
![“We have no paupers ... The great mass of our [United States] population is of laborers; our rich, who can live without labor, either manual or professional, being few, and of moderate wealth. Most of the laboring class possess property, cultivate their own lands, have families, and from the demand…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d26/thomas-jefferson-43_class_we-have-no-paupers-the-great-mass-of-our_389092.jpg)
