James Madison: Wealthy vs. Labor
on Monday, December 17, 2018James Madison Money Quote saying the lazy rich can’t comprehend the desires of the working class. James Madison said:
“The man who is possessed of wealth, who lolls on his sofa, or rolls in his carriage, cannot judge of the wants or feelings of the day laborer” — James Madison
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In this quote, James Madison seems to be highlighting the inability of wealthy elites to truly understand the struggles and experiences of everyday working people. Some key points:
- He refers specifically to those who possess great wealth, implying a level of affluence that removes one from the realities of average citizens.
- Madison describes the wealthy as “lolling” lazily on sofas or being chauffeured in carriages – suggesting lives of leisure and privilege.
- In contrast, he mentions “the day laborer” – referring to common working folk who earn wages through physical or mental toil.
- Madison asserts that those cushioned by wealth cannot genuinely “judge of the wants or feelings” of laborers, since they do not share the same realities of employment, wages, costs of living, etc.
Overall, the quote conveys Madison’s view that the lifestyle advantages afforded by significant wealth create distance from comprehending the challenges faced by the working classes, who power economies but often struggle more basic needs. For Madison, affluence bred disconnect from others’ hardships.