Capable Quote by John Stuart Mill
“The industrial economy which divides society absolutely into two portions, the payers of wages and the receivers of them, the first counted by thousands and the last by millions, is neither fit for, nor capable of, indefinite duration: and the possibility of changing this system for one of combination without dependence, and unity of interest instead of organized hostility, depends altogether upon the future developments of the Partnership principle.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Principles of Political Economy, John Stuart Mill, 1848
The wage‑labor system creates a stark divide between many workers and few employers, which is unsustainable; a cooperative model based on shared interests could replace it.
In simple terms: Wage labor splits society; cooperation could replace it.
Key Takeaway
Explore cooperative alternatives.
Themes
economics
social structure
cooperation
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- industrial society
- policy reform
- community building
Key Concepts
class division
labor relations
future of work
Questions to Reflect On
- How can cooperative models overcome existing power structures?
- What incentives drive workers toward partnership?
A Different Perspective
Cooperation may face entrenched power interests.
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