--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By Labor the North has subdued Nature…" description: "\"By Labor the North has subdued Nature, changed a parsimonious soil to fertility, built dwellings for almost her whole population, raised the school-hou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/henry-ward-beecher-175_labors_by-labor-the-north-has-subdued-nature-ch_997033.png" --- # By Labor the North has subdued Nature, changed a… ![“By Labor the North has subdued Nature, changed a parsimonious soil to fertility, built dwellings for almost her whole population, raised the school-house, established the Church, encircled the globe with her ships, and made her books and her papers to be as blades of grass and as leave of the…” quote by Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/henry-ward-beecher-175_labors_by-labor-the-north-has-subdued-nature-ch_997033.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/henry-ward-beecher-175_labors_by-labor-the-north-has-subdued-nature-ch_997033.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/henry-ward-beecher-175_labors_by-labor-the-north-has-subdued-nature-ch_997033.png) > “By Labor the North has subdued Nature, changed a parsimonious soil to fertility, built dwellings for almost her whole population, raised the school-house, established the Church, encircled the globe with her ships, and made her books and her papers to be as blades of grass and as leave of the Summer for number. But in the South, labor, a badge of shame, is the father of misery. The slave labors, but with no cheerit is not the road to respectability, it will honor him with no citizens trust, it brings no bread to his family, no grain to his garner, no leisure in after-days, no books or papers to his children. It opens no school-house door, builds no church, rears for him no factory, lays no keel, fills no bank, earns no acres. With sweat and toil and ignorance he consumes his life, to pour the earnings into channels from which he does no drink, into hands that never honor him. But perpetually rob and often torment.” [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labor creates prosperity and cultural institutions in the North, while in the South it is tied to slavery and yields no social advancement. **In simple terms:** North benefits from labor; South’s labor under slavery brings misery. Key Takeaway Recognize labor’s role in building societies and fight exploitation. Themes labor social inequality education religion economics Mood reflective critical hopeful Type historical social commentary When to use this quote - building schools - establishing churches - industrial development - fighting slavery - community empowerment Key Concepts capitalism slavery class disparity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure labor benefits all citizens? - What policies can break the link between labor and oppression? A Different Perspective The quote ideal the North’s achievements, overlooking the agency of enslaved people and broader economic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Labors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labors/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) ## Related quotes > [The slave labors, but with no cheer-it is not the road to respectability, it will honor him with no citizens' trust, it brings no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-slave-labors-but-with-no-cheer-it-is-not-the-road-to/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The black man has become a shell, a shadow of man, completely defeated, drowning in his own misery, a slave, an ox bearing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/the-black-man-has-become-a-shell-a-shadow-of-man-completely-defeated/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [It is generally said, "Past labors are pleasant," Euripides says, for you all know the Greek verse, "The recollection of past labors is pleasant."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-generally-said-past-labors-are-pleasant-euripides-says-for-you/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is a remarkable fact that we can never read or hear of the labors which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ performed, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/it-is-a-remarkable-fact-that-we-can-never-read-or-hear-of-the-labors/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-hundred-times-every-day-i-remind-myself-that-my-inner-and-outer/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I get called to do a lot of labors of love... independent films on very small budgets. If I have the time and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wendt/i-get-called-to-do-a-lot-of-labors-of-love-independent-films-on-very/) [George Wendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wendt/) > [Beavers build houses; but they build them in nowise differently, or better now, than they did, five thousand years ago. Ants, and honey-bees, provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/beavers-build-houses-but-they-build-them-in-nowise-differently-or/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As for a limit to one’s labors, I, for one, do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/as-for-a-limit-to-one-s-labors-i-for-one-do-not-recognize-any-for-a/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [...it is up to us to add labors to labors in order to go from strength to strength (Ps. 83:7), and to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-of-sarov/it-is-up-to-us-to-add-labors-to-labors-in-order-to-go-from-strength/) [Seraphim of Sarov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-of-sarov/) > [No missionary can determine the lasting effects of his or her labors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/no-missionary-can-determine-the-lasting-effects-of-his-or-her-labors/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [“We labor not to accomplish some task, for that is far too simple. We labor so that a child is a bit safer, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/we-labor-not-to-accomplish-some-task-for-that-is-far-too-simple-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Other than a light beading of sweat on his forehead there was little evidence that his labors had cost him anything at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/other-than-a-light-beading-of-sweat-on-his-forehead-there-was-little/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [Taxes are paid in the sweat of every man who labors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/taxes-are-paid-in-the-sweat-of-every-man-who-labors/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [the labors of the true critic are more essential to the author, even, than to the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-labors-of-the-true-critic-are-more-essential-to-the-author-even/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [The poet's labors are a work of joy, and require peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-poet-s-labors-are-a-work-of-joy-and-require-peace-of-mind/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More by Henry Ward Beecher > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-best-lessons-a-man-ever-learns-are-from-his-mistakes-it-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [THERE are joys which long to be ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-joys-which-long-to-be-ours/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/you-have-seen-a-ship-out-on-the-bay-swinging-with-the-tide-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Explore all 990 Henry Ward Beecher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More Labors quotes > [The poet's labors are a work of joy, and require peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-poet-s-labors-are-a-work-of-joy-and-require-peace-of-mind/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [the labors of the true critic are more essential to the author, even, than to the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-labors-of-the-true-critic-are-more-essential-to-the-author-even/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Taxes are paid in the sweat of every man who labors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/taxes-are-paid-in-the-sweat-of-every-man-who-labors/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Other than a light beading of sweat on his forehead there was little evidence that his labors had cost him anything at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/other-than-a-light-beading-of-sweat-on-his-forehead-there-was-little/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“We labor not to accomplish some task, for that is far too simple. We labor so that a child is a bit safer, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/we-labor-not-to-accomplish-some-task-for-that-is-far-too-simple-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [No missionary can determine the lasting effects of his or her labors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/no-missionary-can-determine-the-lasting-effects-of-his-or-her-labors/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [...it is up to us to add labors to labors in order to go from strength to strength (Ps. 83:7), and to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-of-sarov/it-is-up-to-us-to-add-labors-to-labors-in-order-to-go-from-strength/) [Seraphim of Sarov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-of-sarov/) > [As for a limit to one’s labors, I, for one, do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/as-for-a-limit-to-one-s-labors-i-for-one-do-not-recognize-any-for-a/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Beavers build houses; but they build them in nowise differently, or better now, than they did, five thousand years ago. Ants, and honey-bees, provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/beavers-build-houses-but-they-build-them-in-nowise-differently-or/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I get called to do a lot of labors of love... independent films on very small budgets. If I have the time and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wendt/i-get-called-to-do-a-lot-of-labors-of-love-independent-films-on-very/) [George Wendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wendt/) > [A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-hundred-times-every-day-i-remind-myself-that-my-inner-and-outer/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It is a remarkable fact that we can never read or hear of the labors which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ performed, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/it-is-a-remarkable-fact-that-we-can-never-read-or-hear-of-the-labors/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [It is generally said, "Past labors are pleasant," Euripides says, for you all know the Greek verse, "The recollection of past labors is pleasant."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-generally-said-past-labors-are-pleasant-euripides-says-for-you/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Lingering labors come to naught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southwell/lingering-labors-come-to-naught/) [Robert Southwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southwell/) > [“There are many of the sisters whose labors are not known beyond their own dwellings, and perhaps not appreciated there. But what difference does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-r-snow/there-are-many-of-the-sisters-whose-labors-are-not-known-beyond-their/) [Eliza R. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-r-snow/) [Browse all 34 Labors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By Labor the North has subdued Nature, changed a parsimonious soil to fertility, built dwellings for almost her whole population, raised the school-house, established the Church, encircled the globe with her ships, and made her books and her papers to be as blades of grass and as leave of the Summer for number. But in the South, labor, a badge of shame, is the father of misery. The slave labors, but with no cheerit is not the road to respectability, it will honor him with no citizens trust, it brings no bread to his family, no grain to his garner, no leisure in after-days, no books or papers to his children. It opens no school-house door, builds no church, rears for him no factory, lays no keel, fills no bank, earns no acres. 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