Time is the most valuable thing on earth: time to think, time to act, time to extend our fraternal relations, time to become better men, time to become better women, time to become better and more independent citizens.

Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and served as the organization's president from 1886 to 1894 and from 1895 until his death in 1924. He promoted "thorough" organization and collective bargaining to secure shorter hours and higher wages the first essential steps he believed to emancipating labor.