--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's labor is not only his capital but…" description: "\"A man's labor is not only his capital but his life. When it passes it returns never more. To utilize it, to prevent its wasteful squandering, to enable..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/william-booth-11758_civilization_a-man-s-labor-is-not-only-his-capital-bu_188581.png" --- # A man's labor is not only his capital but his life. When… ![“A man's labor is not only his capital but his life. When it passes it returns never more. To utilize it, to prevent its wasteful squandering, to enable the poor man to bank it up for use hereafter, this surely is one of the most urgent tasks before civilization.” quote by William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/william-booth-11758_civilization_a-man-s-labor-is-not-only-his-capital-bu_188581.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/william-booth-11758_civilization_a-man-s-labor-is-not-only-his-capital-bu_188581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/william-booth-11758_civilization_a-man-s-labor-is-not-only-his-capital-bu_188581.png) > “A man's labor is not only his capital but his life. When it passes it returns never more. To utilize it, to prevent its wasteful squandering, to enable the poor man to bank it up for use hereafter, this surely is one of the most urgent tasks before civilization.” [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labor is both a person's capital and their life; when lost, it cannot be recovered, so society must prevent waste and help the poor preserve its value for future use. **In simple terms:** Work is life and wealth; losing it is irreversible. Key Takeaway Protect and invest in labor to aid the disadvantaged. Themes economics social justice labor rights wealth Mood urgent empathetic Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community programs - financial education - employment services - charitable initiatives Key Concepts capital human dignity poverty alleviation resource management Questions to Reflect On - What policies best safeguard workers’ labor value? - How can individuals contribute to reducing labor waste? A Different Perspective Balancing labor preservation with economic growth can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Hereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereafter/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Unemployment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“When a man's bank balance becomes too small, his woman flees. For a man to do the same, his woman's body — or vagina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/when-a-man-s-bank-balance-becomes-too-small-his-woman-flees-for-a-man/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The bank is something else than men. 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