Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
The world of employer and employee, like that of master and slave, debases both.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the dehumanizing nature of hierarchical relationships in work settings.
Edward Abbey suggests that the relationship between employer and employee mirrors that of a master and slave, implying that such dynamics strip away dignity and respect from both parties involved. In this context, he advocates for more egalitarian and humane work environments that honor individual worth and autonomy, rather than reducing people to mere roles defined by power and control.
Themes
EmployerEmployeeMaster-SlaveHierarchyDehumanizationDignity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about workplace ethics, this quote can illustrate the need for fair treatment of employees.
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If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
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The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
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I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
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Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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