It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and to force society into an organization of only two classes, one at each social extreme.

Quote by William Graham Sumner

Topics: William Graham Sumner Quotes

He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

He who would be well taken care of must take care of himself.

It is often said that the earth belongs to the race, as if raw land...

It is often said that the earth belongs to the race, as if raw land...

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

Then, again, the ability to organize and conduct industrial, commercial, or financial enterprises is rare;...

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be, according to the...

Any one who believes that any great enterprise of an industrial character can be started...

Any one who believes that any great enterprise of an industrial character can be started...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they...

The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living...

The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living...

I have before me a newspaper slip on which a writer expresses the opinion that...

I have before me a newspaper slip on which a writer expresses the opinion that...

The waste of capital, in proportion to the total capital, in this country between 1800...

The waste of capital, in proportion to the total capital, in this country between 1800...

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

Joint-stock companies are yet in their infancy, and incorporated capital, instead of being a thing...

The criminal law needs to be improved to meet new forms of crime, but to...

The criminal law needs to be improved to meet new forms of crime, but to...

Furthermore, the unearned increment from land appears in the United States as a gain to...

Furthermore, the unearned increment from land appears in the United States as a gain to...

Men of routine or men who can do what they are told are not hard...

Men of routine or men who can do what they are told are not hard...

The aggregation of large fortunes is not at all a thing to be regretted.

The aggregation of large fortunes is not at all a thing to be regretted.

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and...

Undoubtedly there are, in connection with each of these things, cases of fraud, swindling, and...

All history is only one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power...

All history is only one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power...

What we prepare for is what we shall get.

What we prepare for is what we shall get.

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial,...

Moreover, there is an unearned increment on capital and on labor, due to the presence,...

Moreover, there is an unearned increment on capital and on labor, due to the presence,...

We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as...

We throw all our attention on the utterly idle question whether A has done as...