Able Quote by Eugene V. Debs
“Why should the railroad employees be parceled out among a score of different organizations? They are all employed in the same service. Their interests are mutual. They ought to be able to act together as one. But they divide according to craft and calling, and if you were to propose today to unite them that they might actually do something to advance their collective and individual interests as workers, you would be opposed by every grand officer of these organizations.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor Union Address, early 1900s
The speaker argues for unified labor action, warning that division by craft weakens collective power and progress.
In simple terms: Workers should unite, not split.
Key Takeaway
Support solidarity across trades.
Themes
labor
solidarity
organization
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- industrial negotiations
- political activism
- worker rights
- union formation
Key Concepts
collective bargaining
union strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- What benefits arise from unified labor?
- How can divisions be overcome?
A Different Perspective
Opposition from leadership may resist unity.
![“They're mounting a campaign right now with the ACLU and a lot of different organizations advocating for [Edward Snoden] pardoning before [Barack] Obama leaves office. Wouldn't it be incredible to see something like that happen? I don't know what we can expect. I am interested in the different…” quote by Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/389/zachary-quinto-4021_advocating_they-re-mounting-a-campaign-right-now-wi_2908040.jpg)
![“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)
