Quotation from: The Valley of the Moon

Written by: Jack London

"But isn't that what they want you to do?--from the way they're
acting?"

"What's the difference?" Billy shrugged his shoulders, then
continued. "It's better to strike than to get fired. We beat 'em
to it, that's all, an' we catch 'em before they're ready. Don't
we know what they're doin'? They're collectin' gradin'-camp
drivers an' mule-skinners all up an' down the state. They got
forty of 'em, feedin' 'em in a hotel in Stockton right now, an'
ready to rush 'em in on us an' hundreds more like 'em. So this
Saturday's the last wages I'll likely bring home for some time."