The forgotten man... He works, he votes, generally he prays, but his chief business in life is to pay.
William Graham SumnerRead
The Forgotten Man is delving away in patient industry, supporting his family, paying his taxes, casting his vote, supporting the church and the school, reading his newspaper, and cheering for the politician of his admiration, but he is the only one for whom there is no provision in the great scramble and the big divide. Such is the Forgotten Man. He works, he votes, generally he prays — but he always pays — yes, above all, he pays.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The 'Forgotten Man' represents the hardworking individual who contributes to society yet remains overlooked and underappreciated.
William Graham Sumner's quote highlights the plight of the 'Forgotten Man,' who faithfully fulfills his responsibilities such as working diligently, voting, and supporting community institutions like churches and schools. Despite his contributions, he often seems invisible in the eyes of policymakers and society, emphasizing the disconnect between those who toil for the common good and the recognition they receive, particularly in times of social and economic upheaval.
Themes
Forgotten ManSocietyContributionWorkResponsibilityEconomyPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about economic policy, a politician might refer to the 'Forgotten Man' to emphasize the need to prioritize middle-class concerns.
More from William Graham Sumner
All quotes →It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and to force society into an organization of only two classes, one at each social extreme.
William Graham SumnerRead
We shall find that every effort to realize equality necessitates a sacrifice of liberty.
William Graham SumnerRead
The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its 'debt' in the penitentiary or the poor house.
William Graham SumnerRead
We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as well as B, when the only question is whether A has done as well as he could.
William Graham SumnerRead
Civil liberty is the status of the man who is guaranteed by law and civil institutions the exclusive employment of all his own powers for his own welfare.
William Graham SumnerRead
Similar quotes
So many things I had thought forgotten Return to my mind with stranger pain: Like letters that arrive addressed to someone Who left the house so many years ago.
Philip LarkinRead
We are more pained when one of our friends is guilty of something shameful than when we do it ourselves.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
I find it very difficult to think of mistakes; not that I don't make any but because I was brought up to look only at the good things in life ... As for what lost the most money, probably Virgin Cola. It is still No 1 in Bangladesh though.
Richard BransonRead
Meat is not agreeable to the wise: it has a nauseating odor, it causes a bad reputation, it is food for the carnivorous; I say this, Mahamati, it is not to be eaten.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Yesterday is gone and took away its tale. _x000D_ Today we must live a fresh story again.
RumiRead
Wasn't he the one who said you shouldn't trust anybody who calls himself an ordinar man? - Naoko
Haruki MurakamiRead