Common Quote by Eugene V. Debs
“It is when you have done your work honestly, when you have contributed your share to the common fund that you begin to live.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor Rally, 1912
Honest work and contributing to the common good lead to a fulfilling life.
In simple terms: Work honestly, help others.
Key Takeaway
Contribute to community.
Themes
work
honesty
community
fulfillment
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- volunteering
- team projects
- public service
- union meetings
Key Concepts
socialism
collective responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “living” mean beyond material needs?
- How can we balance personal effort with collective support?
A Different Perspective
Individual effort may be insufficient without systemic change.
![“I left that church with rich and royal hatred of the priest as a person, and a loathing for the church as an institution, and I vowed that I would never go inside a church again. [Eugene V. Debs, describing his teenage reaction to a hellfire lecture by a priest]” quote by Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/434/eugene-v-debs-7814_church_i-left-that-church-with-rich-and-royal-h_71485.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
