Abraham Lincoln on Labor

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 higher consideration.

Working men are the basis of all governments, for the plain reason that they are more numerous.

To secure to each laborer the whole product of his labor, or as nearly as much as possible, is a worthy object of any good government.