Full Idea
It is labour that puts the difference of value on everything. ...Whatever bread is worth more than acorns, wine than water, that is wholly owing to labour and industry.
Gist of Idea
All value depends on the labour involved
Source
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 040)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Two Treatises of Government' [Everyman 1988], p.136
A Reaction
In capitalism this is nonsense. Supply and demand fix all the values. Locke has slid from labour bestowing ownership to labour bestowing value. No one gets paid on the basis of how hard they work, except on piece rates.