Quotation by

John Ruskin

Men don't and can't live by exchanging articles, but by producing them. They don't live by trade, but by work. Give up that foolish and vain title of Trades Unions and take that of laborers Unions.
Men

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Understanding this quote AI Analysis

John Ruskin is saying that people survive not just by trading goods but by actually creating and doing the work behind those goods. He criticizes the focus on trade as a name for workers' groups and suggests they should instead identify as unions of laborers, emphasizing the value of their productive effort.

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