“I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth or shapes it into a garment will starve in the process.”
- Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President of the United States
🧠 Who was Benjamin Harrison?
- Lived: 1833-1901
- Known as: 23rd President of the United States (1889-1893)
- Famous for:
- Expanding the U.S. Navy and pursuing a foreign policy of increased global engagement
- Signing the Sherman Antitrust Act, which aimed to prevent monopolistic practices
- Advocating for veterans' pensions and economic protectionism
- Contributions:
- Focused on modernizing the U.S. economy and military
- Played a role in the expansion of American influence on the global stage
- Established important legislation for labor rights and antitrust regulation
The quote reflects Harrison’s condemnation of the exploitation of labor for profit.
It suggests that cheap consumer goods often come at a high cost to the people who create them, implying that fair wages and ethical labor practices are essential to a just society.
In other words:
- A cheap product often hides the suffering of those who produce it.
- True prosperity cannot be built on the backs of exploited workers.
Harrison’s insight highlights the tension between economic self-interest and human dignity, urging us to recognize the value of all labor and the inherent injustice of exploitation.