"By rendering the labor of one, the property of the other, they cherish pride, luxury, and vanity on one side; on the other, vice and servility, or hatred and revolt"
- James Madison
About this Quote
In this quote, James Madison is highlighting the unfavorable effects of a system where a single person's labor advantages another individual's home. He argues that this creates a power dynamic where one side, the property owner, has the ability to enjoy pride, luxury, and vanity at the expense of the other, the laborer. This results in a sense of privilege and supremacy on one side, while the opposite is entrusted to feelings of vice, servility, and animosity. Madison recommends that this unequal circulation of wealth and power can eventually lead to rebellion and hatred, as the oppressed group looks for to topple their oppressors. Overall, Madison is cautioning against a system that perpetuates inequality and encourages unfavorable qualities in both celebrations involved.
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