--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The free-trade idea, logically applied…" description: "\"The free-trade idea, logically applied, will abolish usury; and with usury will disappear the chief bone of contention between labor and capital. But, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ezra-heywood-87398_abolish_the-free-trade-idea-logically-applied-wi_501694.jpg" --- # The free-trade idea, logically applied, will abolish… ![“The free-trade idea, logically applied, will abolish usury; and with usury will disappear the chief bone of contention between labor and capital. But, just at this point, free-traders go over to the enemy; and many writers on political economy, in flat contradiction of the essential principles of…” quote by Ezra Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ezra-heywood-87398_abolish_the-free-trade-idea-logically-applied-wi_501694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ezra-heywood-87398_abolish_the-free-trade-idea-logically-applied-wi_501694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/ezra-heywood-87398_abolish_the-free-trade-idea-logically-applied-wi_501694.jpg) > “The free-trade idea, logically applied, will abolish usury; and with usury will disappear the chief bone of contention between labor and capital. But, just at this point, free-traders go over to the enemy; and many writers on political economy, in flat contradiction of the essential principles of that science, have made elaborate arguments to prove self-government in finance, impossible! What shall we think of men who, having dethroned kings, demolished popes, destroyed slave oligarchies and assailed tariff monopoly, advise submission to the most oppressive and dishonest of despotisms, Usury?” Ezra Heywood ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free trade, if truly applied, would eliminate usury and resolve labor‑capital conflict, yet many betray these principles, supporting oppressive financial systems **In simple terms:** Free trade could end usury and labor disputes, but is undermined by self‑interest Key Takeaway Advocate genuine free trade to dismantle usury Themes economics justice politics freedom usury labor capital trade corruption Mood analytical critical historical Type economic political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - financial regulation - labor negotiations - education campaigns Key Concepts market theory ethical finance political economy Questions to Reflect On - How can free trade be enforced fairly? - What safeguards prevent financial oppression? A Different Perspective Free trade may ignore power imbalances and exploitation in practice ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Free trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-trade/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor and capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-and-capital/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Monopoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monopoly/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-economy/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self-government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-government/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submission/) [Tariffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tariffs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Traders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traders/) [Usury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usury/) ## Related quotes > [Over the years, the U.S. economy has shown a remarkable ability to absorb shocks of all kinds, to recover, and to continue to grow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/over-the-years-the-u-s-economy-has-shown-a-remarkable-ability-to-2/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The idea is the least labor and capital and resources you put together and the more you accumulate the better capitalist you are. 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