"We are socialists because we believe this income which we all cooperate in making isn’t divided as it ought to be. We do reward men according to deed. We do reward or give to people according to need. No religion would be possible in which that wasn’t done. There are the young, there are the old, there are many whom we have to reward according to their need. But in spite of improvements that have been made, and especially perhaps by my liberal friends who aren't just sure how far to go...we still have a society where there's a great deal of reward not according to deed, not according to need, but according to breed - the choice of your grandfather is very important. And according to the successful greed, which operates not in terms of great contributions to men, but in terms of manipulations of one sort of another."
React to this quote
More by Norman Thomas
See allResonant Thoughts
"In America we have not suffered the destruction of our homes, our towns, and our cities. We have not been enslaved for long periods, at the complete mercy of a conqueror. We have enjoyed freedom in it…"
"At one or another college or university, usually in the informal gatherings after I had spoken, perhaps a dozen generally white-complexioned people would come up to me, identifying themselves as Arabi…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"Actually, I was having dinner with Michael when our second album went platinum, which up until that point w…"
— Billy Corgan"Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don't anymore. I realized it was killing conversation. When you'…"
— Groucho Marx"Pornography….the reader panting, eventually masturbating"
— Anthony Burgess"The belief that the gods delighted especially in the gift of human blood was responsible for the widespread…"
— Kirby Page"Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have …"
— David Gemmell"All of us owe a vast debt to Huxley, especially all of us of English speech, for it was he, more than any o…"
— Thomas Henry Huxley