2024 Labor Day Messages from Select Relevant Ideators

My fellow Americans,

On this Labor Day, we honor not only the hands that build, create, and sustain our nation but also the minds that innovate, inspire, and lead us forward. Our strength lies in the union of labor and intellect, where every contribution—whether of muscle or thought—adds to the greatness of our country. As we face the challenges and opportunities ahead, let us commit to a future where all work is valued, and every American has the chance to both create and thrive.

Together, in unity and purpose.

Thank you.

Abraham Lincoln

My fellow Americans,

On this Labor Day, we affirm the unsung hands and minds that have built our nation. From the factories to the fields, from classrooms to boardrooms, and within our homes, women have been the backbone of our progress. Their work, whether paid or unpaid, has fueled the growth of our society and enriched our collective well-being.

As we celebrate today, let us commit to a future where women’s contributions are fully recognized and valued. A future where every woman, in every role, has the opportunity to thrive, to lead, and to shape the course of our nation.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

My fellow Americans,

The struggle of labor has demanded not only toil but also the courage to claim one's dignity in the face of oppression. Today we celebrate both the labor of all and the journey toward justice and freedom.

As we look to the future, let us commit ourselves to the continued struggle for a world where every person is recognized in their full humanity. Our work is not done until all can work with dignity, in freedom, and with the respect that is the birthright of every human being.

Thank you.

Frederick Douglass

Citizens of America,

On this Labor Day, let us reflect on the profound connection between labor and the nation. It is through the toil of individuals—each pursuing their own interests within a framework of justice—that we build not only material prosperity but also the moral fabric of society. Every worker contributes to the hand that guides us toward greater good, where individual efforts harmonize to benefit the whole.

Let us remember that the dignity of labor lies not only in its outcomes but in the virtue of the laborer. It is through our work that we exercise our moral agency and contribute to the well-being of others. On this day, let us celebrate not just the fruits of our labor, but the character and purpose that labor instills in each of us.

Thank you.

Adam Smith

People of America,

On this Labor Day, let us recognize that we are all workers, each contributing through our labor to the fabric of our society. It is through our work that we shape the world and realize our humanity. As Lincoln reminded us, “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 the higher consideration.”

In striving to be fully human, we must uphold the dignity of work for all. True fulfillment comes when we, as a society, ensure that every person's work is valued, and that the fruits of our collective work are shared justly.

Let this day inspire us to continue building a world where all work is respected and where all people can live with dignity, in full recognition of their humanity.

Thank you.

Karl Marx

Citizens of America,

On this Labor Day, let us reflect on the dignity of work as an expression of our humanity. Work is not merely the means by which we sustain our lives, but the arena in which we exercise our moral freedom. It is through work, guided by the principles of duty and justice, that we contribute to the common good and shape our collective future.

Bear in mind, as Lincoln observed , that a large majority of people are neither workers nor capitalists—neither work for others nor have others work for them—or, as he further noted, they may mix a bit of each. Those observations are even more valuable in our era of artificial intelligence than they were in Lincoln's first address to Congress.

In that "mixed" world, we must be more mindful than ever of the moral law within us, which compels us to treat ourselves and others not merely as means, but as ends in themselves. As we labor for our own betterment and that of our society, we fulfill a duty not only to ourselves but to all humanity and the world at large.

May we strive, therefore, not only for our own happiness but for the perfection of our character and the well-being of others, remembering that the highest form of work is that which serves the universal good.

Thank you.

Immanuel Kant