So there are two sides to it.

The man with the high standard of living will always do more work and better than the man with the low standard of living.
There is a comparison which sailormen make between the English and American merchant services.

In an English ship, they say, it is poor grub, poor pay, and easy work; in an American ship, good grub, good pay, and hard work.

And this is applicable to the working populations of both countries.

The ocean greyhounds have to pay for speed and steam, and so does the workman.