But every time the workers come out in the only way they know to protest against conditions which are unbearable the strong hand of the law is allowed to press down heavily upon us.
Rose SchneidermanRead
The life of men and women is so cheap and property is so sacred. There are so many of us for one job it matters little if 146 of us are burned to death.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the value society places on human lives compared to material possessions.
Rose Schneiderman's quote highlights the troubling reality of how society often prioritizes property over human life. By illustrating the stark contrast in value assigned to people versus material wealth, she calls attention to the systemic issues that allow for such a perspective, particularly in the context of labor rights and safety, where individuals are seen as expendable in the face of profit and property preservation.
Themes
ValueLifePropertySocietySafetyLabor Rights
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about labor rights, one could use this quote to emphasize the need to prioritize human safety over profits.
More from Rose Schneiderman
All quotes →What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist — the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the humblest worker has not a right to have also. The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with.
Rose SchneidermanRead
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