Abomination Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Thomas Jefferson, the leading Enlightenment figure in the United States, along with Benjamin Franklin, who took exactly the same view, argued that dependence will lead to "subservience and venality", and will "suffocate the germs of virtue". And remember, by dependence he meant wage labor, which was considered an abomination under classical liberal principles.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on political economy, 2015
Dependence on wage labor erodes personal virtue, turning individuals into subservient, corruptible beings under economic pressure
In simple terms: Relying on wage work can diminish moral character
Key Takeaway
Beware of economic systems that reduce autonomy
Themes
politics
economics
virtue
dependence
Mood
critical
analytical
concerned
Type
academic
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- employment contracts
- gig economy
- policy debates
- social movements
Key Concepts
classical liberalism
labor theory
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance economic security with personal virtue?
- What alternatives exist to wage labor that preserve autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Economic necessity often forces dependence despite ideals
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