When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.
Eugene V. DebsRead
The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and all to lose - especially their lives.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the disparity between those in power and those who are oppressed, emphasizing the sacrifices made by the working class in conflicts instigated by the elite.
Eugene V. Debs points out a fundamental injustice in society where the ruling class instigates wars for their own benefit, while the working class is left to bear the burden, fighting and suffering the consequences. The master class has everything to gain—land, power, wealth—while the subject class risks their lives for little more than survival, underscoring a profound inequality in societal structures where the oppressed pay the ultimate price for the ambitions of a privileged few.
Themes
Class StruggleInequalityWarOppressionSacrifice
In practice
Example use cases
During a labor union meeting to highlight the struggles of workers.
More from Eugene V. Debs
All quotes →Why should the railroad employees be parceled out among a score of different organizations? They are all employed in the same service. Their interests are mutual. They ought to be able to act together as one. But they divide according to craft and calling, and if you were to propose today to unite them that they might actually do something to advance their collective and individual interests as workers, you would be opposed by every grand officer of these organizations.
Eugene V. DebsRead
If it had not been for the discontent of a few fellows who had not been satisfied with their conditions, you would still be living in caves. Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization. Progress is born of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation.
Eugene V. DebsRead
As long as this great army of workers is scattered among so many craft unions, it will be impossible for them to unite and act in harmony together. Craft unionism is the negation of solidarity. The more unions you have, the less unity.
Eugene V. DebsRead
Speaking of myself, I was made to realize long ago that the old trade union was utterly incompetent to deal successfully with the exploiting corporations in this struggle. I was made to see that in craft unionism the capitalist class have it within their power to keep the workers divided, to use one part of them to conquer and crush another part of them. Indeed, I was made to see that the old form of unionism separates the workers and keeps them helpless at the mercy of their masters.
Eugene V. DebsRead
Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
Eugene V. DebsRead
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