Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
 Abraham Lincoln, State of the Union Address (3 December 1861). copy citation

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Author Abraham Lincoln
Source State of the Union Address
Topic politics labor capital
Date 3 December 1861
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5024/5024-h/5024-h.htm

Context

“Now there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all inferences from them are groundless.
Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital producing mutual benefits.” source

Meaning and analysis

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