Capitalist Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“He who eats in idleness that which he himself has not earned, steals it; and a capitalist whom the state pays for doing nothing differs little in my eyes from a brigand, who lives at the expense of passers-by.”
About This Quote
A moral argument equating idleness and state‑paid idling with theft, likening both to brigandry.
In simple terms: He condemns lazy, unearned consumption as theft.
Key Takeaway
Value productive work.
Themes
ethics
economics
labor
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- employment ethics
Key Concepts
idleness
state welfare
property rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do citizens have to work?
- How should societies support the idle without encouraging exploitation?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex socioeconomic issues.
