“It is a known fact that the third class traffic pays for the ever-increasing luxuries of first and second class travelling. Surely a third class passenger is entitled at least to the bare necessities of life.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: From Gandhi's 1917 pamphlet 'Third Class in Indian Railways'; exact primary line not fetched to confirm verbatim.
About this quote
The people who fund a system with the most fares often get the least back, while their money underwrites comforts for a few. The claim is plain: basic dignity isn't a premium upgrade, and whoever carries the most weight is owed, at minimum, the essentials.
When to use it
- A budget airline's cheap seats bankroll business-class perks, yet those passengers get no water or legroom.
- Renters pay fees that upgrade the penthouse lobby while their own stairwell lights stay broken.
- The transit riders who buy the most tickets deserve clean, working stations, not just the express commuters.