Who are the oppressors? The few: the King, the capitalist, and a handful of other overseers and superintendents. Who are the oppressed? The many: the nations of the earth; the valuable personages; the workers; they that make the bread that the soft-handed and idle eat.

Collected Tales, Sketches, Speeches & Essays: 1852-1890 (ed. Library of America, 1992)