Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chronology
- Biographical synopses
- A note on sources and abbreviations
- Bibliographical note
- I Political Writings and Speeches
- II Notes and Fragments
- 36 On Government (1854?)
- 37 On Slavery (1854?)
- 38 On Slavery and Democracy (1858?)
- 39 On Pro-slavery Theology (1858)
- 40 On the Struggle against Slavery (c. July 1858)
- 41 On Racial (In)equality 1
- 42 On Racial (In)equality 2
- 43 The Declaration of Independence includes all men
- 44 On Slavery, Property, and the Constitution
- 45 On Labor and Capital 1 (c. 1846–7)
- 46 On Labor and Capital 2
- 47 On Labor and Capital 3
- 48 On Liberty
- 49 On the Thirteenth Amendment (abolition of slavery)
- Index
45 - On Labor and Capital 1 (c. 1846–7)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chronology
- Biographical synopses
- A note on sources and abbreviations
- Bibliographical note
- I Political Writings and Speeches
- II Notes and Fragments
- 36 On Government (1854?)
- 37 On Slavery (1854?)
- 38 On Slavery and Democracy (1858?)
- 39 On Pro-slavery Theology (1858)
- 40 On the Struggle against Slavery (c. July 1858)
- 41 On Racial (In)equality 1
- 42 On Racial (In)equality 2
- 43 The Declaration of Independence includes all men
- 44 On Slavery, Property, and the Constitution
- 45 On Labor and Capital 1 (c. 1846–7)
- 46 On Labor and Capital 2
- 47 On Labor and Capital 3
- 48 On Liberty
- 49 On the Thirteenth Amendment (abolition of slavery)
- Index
Summary
In the early days of the world, the Almighty said to the first of our race “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”; and since then, if we except the light and the air of heaven, no good thing has been, or can be enjoyed by us, without having first cost labor. And, inasmuch as most good things are produced by labor, it follows that all such things of right belong to those whose labor has produced them. But it has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have labored, and others have, without labor, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is wrong, and should not continue. To secure to each laborer the whole product of his labor, or as nearly as possible, is a most worthy object of any good government.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- LincolnPolitical Writings and Speeches, pp. 235Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012