Unto This Last · Chapter
Endnotes explained
In the endnotes, Ruskin clarifies his stance against socialist division of property, arguing instead for the moral use of riches.
What happens
In the endnotes, Ruskin clarifies his stance against socialist division of property, arguing instead for the moral use of riches. He critiques classical political economy, emphasizing the role of moral and passionate elements in labor and value, and challenges economists like Mill and Ricardo for neglecting these factors. He defends his earlier arguments on regulated labor and pay, and explores the moral dimensions of demand and production.
Themes in this chapter
Critique of Classical Political Economy
Ruskin challenges Mill and Ricardo's definitions of value and labor, arguing they neglect moral and passionate elements.
Moral Dimensions of Labor
Emphasizes that labor includes moral feelings and passion, not just manual effort; criticizes economists for ignoring this.
True Nature of Wealth
Riches are a form of strength to be used morally, not hoarded or redistributed; wealth is tied to service and redemption.
Justice Over Expediency
Argues for paying bad work no less than good to encourage discernment, and for moral use of riches rather than charity.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Ruskin speaks in first person, defending his views and critiquing political economy.
- John Stuart Mill
Referenced for his definitions of labor and value; Ruskin critiques Mill's omission of moral and passionate elements.
- David Ricardo
Mentioned in relation to the labor theory of value; Ruskin argues Ricardo's definition is incomplete.
- Fritz
Cited as an example of moral force adding to material power: 'Fritz is with us. He is worth fifty thousand men.'
Key passages
“The rich man does not keep back meat from the poor by retaining his riches; but by basely using them.”
The harm to the poor comes not from the rich possessing wealth, but from how they misuse it.
Ruskin distinguishes between the possession and the moral use of riches.
“The fortitude and intelligence which acquire riches are intended, by the Giver of both, not to scatter, nor to give away, but to employ those riches in the service of mankind.”
Wealth is meant to be used for the benefit of others, not simply given away or hoarded.
Emphasizes the moral purpose of wealth acquisition and use.
“No limit can be set to the importance—even in a purely productive and material point of view—of mere thought, without seeing that it was logically necessary to add also, 'and of mere feeling.'”
If thought is important for production, then feeling must be equally important, yet economists ignore it.
Ruskin critiques Mill for acknowledging thought but not emotion in labor.
“The workman is merely indemnified for the first; but the second both produce a part of the exchangeable value of the work, and materially increase its actual quantity.”
Disagreeable feelings in labor are compensated as pain, but agreeable feelings add value and productivity.
Highlights the economic role of positive moral and emotional elements in work.