American life Quote by Walter Lippmann
“The unions are the first feeble effort to conquer the industrial jungle for democratic life. They may not succeed, but if they don't their failure will be a tragedy for civilization, a loss of cooperative effort, a baulking of energy, and the fixing in American life of a class-structure.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Public Opinion, 1922
Labor unions are early collective attempts to democratize industry; their failure would harm societal cooperation.
In simple terms: Unions try to democratize work; failure hurts society.
Key Takeaway
Support collective action for democratic workplaces.
Themes
labor
democracy
cooperation
industrialization
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- workplace negotiations
- policy debates
- union organizing
- community projects
- academic studies
Key Concepts
collective bargaining
social capital
class dynamics
economic equity
Questions to Reflect On
- What can strengthen union effectiveness?
- How can societies balance individual and collective interests?
A Different Perspective
Unions may face internal corruption or external suppression.
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