--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had two spinster aunts who were…" description: "\"I had two spinster aunts who were seamstresses, and of course unemployed in the 1930s, but the union gave them a life. They had a couple of weeks in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/noam-chomsky-42_1930s_i-had-two-spinster-aunts-who-were-seamst_1590446.jpg" --- # I had two spinster aunts who were seamstresses, and of… ![“I had two spinster aunts who were seamstresses, and of course unemployed in the 1930s, but the union gave them a life. They had a couple of weeks in the country for a union installation and they had educational programs and all sorts of things. There was a life, you know, a real community.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/noam-chomsky-42_1930s_i-had-two-spinster-aunts-who-were-seamst_1590446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/noam-chomsky-42_1930s_i-had-two-spinster-aunts-who-were-seamst_1590446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/noam-chomsky-42_1930s_i-had-two-spinster-aunts-who-were-seamst_1590446.jpg) > “I had two spinster aunts who were seamstresses, and of course unemployed in the 1930s, but the union gave them a life. They had a couple of weeks in the country for a union installation and they had educational programs and all sorts of things. There was a life, you know, a real community.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unions can provide community, education, and stability for workers during hard economic times **In simple terms:** Unions give workers support and learning opportunities Key Takeaway Support workers through collective action Themes labor community education economic security Mood reflective hopeful Type analytical historical When to use this quote - job insecurity - economic downturn - skill development - community building Key Concepts solidarity social safety net collective bargaining Questions to Reflect On - What benefits have you seen from union membership? - How can unions adapt to modern gig economies? A Different Perspective Unions may not reach all workers equally ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1930s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-1930s-382/) [1930S Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1930s-union-6027124/) [Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) [Aunts Seamstresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunts-seamstresses-6027123/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Educational programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational-programs-53232/) [Installation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/installation/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Seamstresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seamstresses-1965056/) [Spinster Aunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spinster-aunts-4624878/) [Spinsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spinsters/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Unemployed 1930S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed-1930s-6027125/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [The saints are never the kind of killjoy spinster aunts who go in for faultfinding and lack all sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-saints-are-never-the-kind-of-killjoy-spinster-aunts-who-go-in-for/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [People wouldn't know this about me, but I adore ball gowns. I love their cut, their architecture and the thought of the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/people-wouldn-t-know-this-about-me-but-i-adore-ball-gowns-i-love/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If we got an educational program going, we could tell people, "Instead of butter, use avocado." That's something we eat, it has the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/if-we-got-an-educational-program-going-we-could-tell-people-instead/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Let's talk about after-school programs generally. They're supposed to be educational programs, right? And that's what they're supposed to do; they're supposed to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/let-s-talk-about-after-school-programs-generally-they-re-supposed-to/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [There are tribes, I should say nations, which prior to the AIM movement had only ten or fifteen employees, and now have upwards of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/there-are-tribes-i-should-say-nations-which-prior-to-the-aim-movement/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [What we are working for is an educational program that has become a resource and rallying point for scores of brave southerners who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/septima-poinsette-clark/what-we-are-working-for-is-an-educational-program-that-has-become-a/) [Septima Poinsette Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/septima-poinsette-clark/) > [When those who are educated using their education to exploit those who aren't. That's what the sub-prime scandal represents - people of education using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-those-who-are-educated-using-their-education-to-exploit-those/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Educating Lawyers succeeds admirably in describing the educational programs at virtually every American law school. The call for the integration of the three apprenticeships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-wizner/educating-lawyers-succeeds-admirably-in-describing-the-educational/) [Stephen Wizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-wizner/) > [Ive been involved with Carnegie Hall for the last 13 years, and Chairman for the last six. I feel really good about what weve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-i-weill/ive-been-involved-with-carnegie-hall-for-the-last-13-years-and/) [Sanford I. Weill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-i-weill/) > [The Assembly passed a budget that makes the right choices for young students across the state by helping schools avoid cutting essential educational programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-peralta/the-assembly-passed-a-budget-that-makes-the-right-choices-for-young/) [Jose Peralta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-peralta/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More 1930s quotes > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [It reminds me in some ways of the debate taking place in this country and around the world in the late 1930s. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/it-reminds-me-in-some-ways-of-the-debate-taking-place-in-this-country/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As a result of the efforts of Hayek .. and the many others who share his general outlook, the idea of a centrally planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/as-a-result-of-the-efforts-of-hayek-and-the-many-others-who-share-his/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [When I was in Philadelphia during the Depression in 1930 or '31, I got a very sad job as a night watchman in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-glazer/when-i-was-in-philadelphia-during-the-depression-in-1930-or-31-i-got/) [Tom Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-glazer/) > [Working in 3D I didn't experience much of a difference, except that the cameras are very big so they can't be moved around with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frain/working-in-3d-i-didn-t-experience-much-of-a-difference-except-that/) [James Frain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frain/) > [Whatever the reasons may be, I was very much affected by events of the 1930s - the Spanish Civil War, for example, though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/whatever-the-reasons-may-be-i-was-very-much-affected-by-events-of-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We're a little bit low in the 1970s, right, post-Vietnam, Watergate era, malaise, all that, but this is more like the 1930s where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/we-re-a-little-bit-low-in-the-1970s-right-post-vietnam-watergate-era/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [In the immediate postwar era, financial crises in advanced countries were rare events, and before 1970 did not happen at all. Since then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-m-taylor/in-the-immediate-postwar-era-financial-crises-in-advanced-countries/) [Alan M. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-m-taylor/) > [I would not say that Harvard possesses any sort of absolute dominance. And I personally do not take the rankings of schools all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/i-would-not-say-that-harvard-possesses-any-sort-of-absolute-dominance/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [In the 1930s one was aware of two great evils - mass unemployment and the threat of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meade/in-the-1930s-one-was-aware-of-two-great-evils-mass-unemployment-and/) [James Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meade/) > [When comics came along in the 1930s there was a talent pool waiting. And one reason is so many areas were closed to Jews.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-robinson/when-comics-came-along-in-the-1930s-there-was-a-talent-pool-waiting/) [Jerry Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-robinson/) > [In his 1930 book, Dirac took for granted that measurements could be made, but was very vague about what was actually involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-lamb/in-his-1930-book-dirac-took-for-granted-that-measurements-could-be/) [Willis Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-lamb/) > [Under the gold standard America had no major financial panics other than in 1873, 1884, 1890, 1893, 1907, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/under-the-gold-standard-america-had-no-major-financial-panics-other/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The crucial role communists played in organizing industrial unions in the 1930s and struggling for social reforms, peace, and civil rights strengthened rather then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-crucial-role-communists-played-in-organizing-industrial-unions-in/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) [Browse all 255 1930s quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zz-1930s-382/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had two spinster aunts who were seamstresses, and of course unemployed in the 1930s, but the union gave them a life. 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