Avoidance Quote by Hilaire Belloc
“The terror in which English capitalists now stand of organized proletarian resistance gives to the naturally protected craft organizations the power to receive the wages they demand. They act as they have been trained to act by capitalist society, which denies the doctrine of the Just Price, which proclaims work to be an evil and the goal of human endeavor to be the avoidance of it; which puts it up as an ideal that individuals should get as much money as they possibly can out of their fellows by any means in their power.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Early 20th‑century labor commentary, Hilaire Belloc
The speaker warns that capitalist structures empower organized labor to demand wages, while ignoring moral economic principles like the Just Price.
In simple terms: Capitalism pushes workers to maximize profit, ignoring fairness.
Key Takeaway
Question the fairness of wage demands.
Themes
capitalism
labor
economics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
historical
When to use this quote
- union negotiations
- policy debates
- economic reforms
- class analysis
Key Concepts
Just Price
moral economics
exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- Is maximizing profit always immoral?
- How can fair wages be ensured without exploitation?
A Different Perspective
The view may oversimplify complex market dynamics.
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