A well-paid slave is nonetheless a slave.
I'm a human being I'm not a piece of property. I am not a consignment of goods.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the inherent dignity and autonomy of individuals, rejecting the notion of being treated as mere objects or possessions.
Curt Flood's quote reflects the struggle for human rights and dignity, particularly in the context of sports and labor. It asserts that individuals should not be viewed as commodities or property that can be owned or traded, but rather as human beings with rights and agency. This statement resonates with broader themes of freedom and personal autonomy, highlighting the importance of recognizing and respecting individuals as whole persons rather than as objects for use or exploitation.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech advocating for player rights, one might reference this quote to highlight the importance of human dignity in sports.
More from Curt Flood
All quotes βAnd I'd be lying if I told you that as a black man in baseball I hadn't gone through worse times than my teammates.
Similar quotes
Faith ventures and hazards . . . counting the costs and delighting in the sacrifice.
When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.
On becoming soldiers we have not ceased to be citizens.
Our biggest thing is, any player who's protesting will tell you that the only reason we use the anthem is because it's a platform like no other. We use it to draw attention to other issues. We've heard from many people, 'Use a different venue. Use a different platform.' Quite frankly, this is the most effective one.
Let no one think of me that I am humble or weak or passive; let them understand I am of a different kind: dangerous to my enemies, loyal to my friends. To such a life glory belongs.
I fear we have shot our bolt - but we have been to Pole and done the longest journey on record.