Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., (1841-1935) US Supreme Court Justice, also known as "The Great Dissenter"

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Quote

“One of the eternal conflicts out of which life is made up is that between the effort of every man to get the most he can for his services, and that of society, disguised under the name of capital, to get his services for the least possible return.”

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
~ Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Vegelahn v. Guntner, 167 Mass. 92, 44 N.E. 1077, 1081 (1896) (opinion of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts).

Ratings and Comments


jim k, Austin, Tx

So what's the problem here, I thought this was known as negotiating or bargaining.

Mike, Norwalk

The statement is more accurate in the private sector and/or if the phrase "disguised under the name of capital" is replaced with encouraged under fascist exploitation. I'm with jim, I'm not sure there is so much a conflict as negotiating and bargaining going on to sell your stuff for the most and buy the other guy's stuff for the least. (is that really a conflict ?)

E Archer, NYC

Perhaps 'conflict' is not the best word. People do compete for resources, territory, and influence -- the degree of severity of this competition indicates whether this is a conflict or just the process of supply and demand.

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