--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think unions started as a good thing…" description: "\"I think unions started as a good thing back in the day, but they've turned into a monster.\" — Matt Hughes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg" --- # I think unions started as a good thing back in the day… ![“I think unions started as a good thing back in the day, but they've turned into a monster.” quote by Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg) > “I think unions started as a good thing back in the day, but they've turned into a monster.” [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker believes unions were once beneficial but now view them as harmful. **In simple terms:** Unions were good, now seem monstrous. Key Takeaway Recognize both positive and negative impacts of unions. Themes labor history power dynamics Mood critical reflective Type analytical historical When to use this quote - workplace negotiations - political debates - policy making - public perception Key Concepts collective bargaining institutional change Questions to Reflect On - How have unions changed over time? - What evidence shows unions' benefits? A Different Perspective Unions still protect workers and can be essential for rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster/) [Started Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-good-1615715/) [Think Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-unions-1615714/) [Turned Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-monster-676382/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Unions Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions-started-1615713/) ## Related quotes > [Like patents - which also seek to protect the little guy - unions were started for all the right reasons. But like patents, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/like-patents-which-also-seek-to-protect-the-little-guy-unions-were/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [“My beautiful boy has turned into a monster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-rosales/my-beautiful-boy-has-turned-into-a-monster/) [Carmen Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-rosales/) > [The money turned me into a monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/the-money-turned-me-into-a-monster/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [I sometimes think that unions don't understand that we live in a free society, and people have the right to not select union representation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-sometimes-think-that-unions-don-t-understand-that-we-live-in-a-free/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [I think unions are a good thing, but sometimes, not to get too political, but unions can go the wrong way, but the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/i-think-unions-are-a-good-thing-but-sometimes-not-to-get-too/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [The trade schools closed, so young Black men don't know how to build a house, or put a roof on a house or build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-trade-schools-closed-so-young-black-men-don-t-know-how-to-build-a/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I once was, cool as the Fonz was. But these bright lights turned me to a monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/i-once-was-cool-as-the-fonz-was-but-these-bright-lights-turned-me-to/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) > [“Then Joe said, “I know what it was — split personality — when a man is two people at once.” “Huh?” Danny grunted. “Sure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/then-joe-said-i-know-what-it-was-split-personality-when-a-man-is-two/) [Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/) > [“Yeah, Mom, Ethan’s turned into a monster and my best friend thinks he’s a faery. How was your day?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/yeah-mom-ethan-s-turned-into-a-monster-and-my-best-friend-thinks-he-s/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I think mp3s are great if you are unknown and trying to get started. It's a good way to get your music out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-waters/i-think-mp3s-are-great-if-you-are-unknown-and-trying-to-get-started/) [Crystal Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-waters/) > [“It was then I realized that I do give a shit about Apple—I started it and it is a good thing to have in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/it-was-then-i-realized-that-i-do-give-a-shit-about-apple-i-started-it/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [We started Good Neighbor in like 2006? Right around the time that Kyle graduated college. And I was doing freelance editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mccary/we-started-good-neighbor-in-like-2006-right-around-the-time-that-kyle/) [Dave McCary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mccary/) > [Everything that is started with a Good Heart has a Good End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/everything-that-is-started-with-a-good-heart-has-a-good-end/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When I started, I had a really hard time getting work. It was the mid- to late-nineties. There was the WB. My age was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/when-i-started-i-had-a-really-hard-time-getting-work-it-was-the-mid/) [Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/) > [As a band, when we started, that was all we were good at. It wasn't 'we've got to be a guitar band'; if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/as-a-band-when-we-started-that-was-all-we-were-good-at-it-wasn-t-we/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) ## More by Matt Hughes > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [On the ground, Johny Hendricks won. He beat GSP up. In the rounds Georges won, he barely won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/on-the-ground-johny-hendricks-won-he-beat-gsp-up-in-the-rounds/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I don't think Dana is able to run the UFC like he used to. He sold so much of it that he doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-don-t-think-dana-is-able-to-run-the-ufc-like-he-used-to-he-sold-so/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [UFC is always working on getting, if not legal, better rules in states for the fighters in the UFC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/ufc-is-always-working-on-getting-if-not-legal-better-rules-in-states/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I didn't want to retire in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-didn-t-want-to-retire-in-the-first-place/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [It doesn't have to be somebody getting hurt to get excitement in the octagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/it-doesn-t-have-to-be-somebody-getting-hurt-to-get-excitement-in-the/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I didn't want to retire in the first place. My wife said she didn't want me to fight anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-didn-t-want-to-retire-in-the-first-place-my-wife-said-she-didn-t/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I want to raise my kids more than coaching. I do some stints on coaching, but I've got other things I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-want-to-raise-my-kids-more-than-coaching-i-do-some-stints-on/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [Georges has made a lot of money. Gosh, what's he got to prove?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/georges-has-made-a-lot-of-money-gosh-what-s-he-got-to-prove/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [To be honest, I don't spar a whole lot. I do hit a lot of pads and spar a little bit, I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/to-be-honest-i-don-t-spar-a-whole-lot-i-do-hit-a-lot-of-pads-and-spar/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [My saying is, 'Cardio is confidence.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/my-saying-is-cardio-is-confidence/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I try to have the faster truck than my brother, the better-looking wife, the more disciplined kids... it's a sickness, to compete with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-try-to-have-the-faster-truck-than-my-brother-the-better-looking/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [Georges is a great guy. No doubt about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/georges-is-a-great-guy-no-doubt-about-it/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I'm not a nightlife guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-m-not-a-nightlife-guy/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [I don't really watch any of my fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-don-t-really-watch-any-of-my-fights/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) [Explore all 100 Matt Hughes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) ## More Day quotes > [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/) [Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/) > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) [Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think unions started as a good thing back in the day, but they've turned into a monster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Hughes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-back-in-the-day-but-they-ve/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Day" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-back-in-the-day-but-they-ve/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/matt-hughes-5496_day_i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-b_941952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think unions started as a good thing back in the day, but they've turned into a monster.” — Matt Hughes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Hughes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think unions started as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-back-in-the-day-but-they-ve/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-think-unions-started-as-a-good-thing-back-in-the-day-but-they-ve/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```