--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my Inaugural I laid down the simple…" description: "\"In my Inaugural I laid down the simple proposition that nobody is going to starve in this country. It seems to me to be equally plain that no business ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_in-my-inaugural-i-laid-down-the-simple-p_2959657.jpg" --- # In my Inaugural I laid down the simple proposition that… ![“In my Inaugural I laid down the simple proposition that nobody is going to starve in this country. It seems to me to be equally plain that no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By 'business' I mean the…” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_in-my-inaugural-i-laid-down-the-simple-p_2959657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_in-my-inaugural-i-laid-down-the-simple-p_2959657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_in-my-inaugural-i-laid-down-the-simple-p_2959657.jpg) > “In my Inaugural I laid down the simple proposition that nobody is going to starve in this country. It seems to me to be equally plain that no business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By 'business' I mean the whole of commerce as well as the whole of industry; by workers I mean all workers, the white collar class as well as the men in overalls; and by living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level-I mean the wages of decent living.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Roosevelt argues that a nation cannot sustain businesses that pay wages below a decent living standard, as it violates basic human rights and economic fairness. **In simple terms:** Businesses must pay workers a decent living wage. Key Takeaway Ensure wages meet basic living standards. Themes economics social justice labor rights government policy human dignity Mood determined urgent optimistic Type political ethical economic When to use this quote - policy formulation - union negotiations - small business planning - government legislation - public advocacy Key Concepts living wage economic equity social contract fair labor standards Questions to Reflect On - How can businesses balance fair wages with profitability? - What policies can support both workers and employers? A Different Perspective Opponents may claim higher wages increase costs and reduce competitiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-wage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Minimum wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum-wage/) [Subsistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsistence/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/) [White collar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-collar/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [No business which depends for existence on paying \*less than living wages\* to its workers has any right to continue in this country... 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