Harvest Quote by Edward De Vere
““The labouring man that tills the fertile soil, And reaps the harvest fruit, hath not indeed The gain, but pain; and if for all his toil He gets the straw, the lord will have the seed.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Faerie Queene, Book I, 1590
Hard work can yield little reward when the benefits are taken by those in power, leaving the worker with only hardship.
In simple terms: Labor may bring pain, not profit, when others reap the benefits.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address unfair distribution of rewards.
Themes
labor
inequality
power
justice
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
critical
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- agricultural work
- low‑wage jobs
- contract labor
- taxation
- profit sharing
Key Concepts
feudalism
exploitation
economic disparity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can workers secure fair share of their labor?
- What systems perpetuate this imbalance?
A Different Perspective
Even with effort, outcomes depend on systemic structures, not just personal toil.
