One of the great reasons for the popularity of strikes is that they give the suppressed self a sense of power. For once the human tool knows itself a man, able to stand up and speak a word or strike a blow.

Summary

This quote suggests that strikes, as a form of collective action, are attractive because they provide individuals who feel oppressed with a newfound sense of power. By participating in strikes, people who may have felt relegated to mere tools of society are able to assert their humanity and demonstrate their ability to take a stand and make a difference. Strikes allow individuals to amplify their voices and symbolically resist the systems or individuals that have oppressed them, giving them a sense of empowerment and agency.