Body Quote by Florence Kelley
“It is fatal for any body of workers to have forever hanging from the fringes of its skirts other bodies on a level just below its own; for that means continual pressure downward, additional difficulty to be overcome in the struggle to maintain reasonable rates of wages.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor Reform Address, early 1900s, United States
Workers at the bottom of a hierarchy create downward pressure on wages and conditions for those just above them, making it harder to sustain fair pay.
In simple terms: Low‑rank workers drag down wages for those slightly higher.
Key Takeaway
Address inequality to protect wage stability.
Themes
labor
economics
inequality
solidarity
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- union negotiations
- policy making
- wage setting
- economic planning
Key Concepts
class hierarchy
wage pressure
collective bargaining
Questions to Reflect On
- How does wage pressure affect overall economic health?
- What policies can mitigate downward wage pressure?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring lower tiers can destabilize the whole workforce.
![“Such is Life [Executed by hanging.]” quote by Ned Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7a/ned-kelly-37950_inspirational_such-is-life-executed-by-hanging-1590376_1590376.jpg)
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
