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The general fact of surplus value, namely that the workmen…

“The general fact of surplus value, namely that the workmen does not get the full value of his labours, and that he is taken advantage of by the capitalist, is obvious.” quote by Edward Carpenter
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“The general fact of surplus value, namely that the workmen does not get the full value of his labours, and that he is taken advantage of by the capitalist, is obvious.”

Edward Carpenter

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Workers receive less value than they produce, showing capitalist exploitation.

In simple terms: Capitalism exploits workers' labor.

Key Takeaway

Advocate fair compensation.

Themes

exploitation labor value capitalism

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

  • wage negotiations
  • union organizing
  • policy reform

Key Concepts

economic theory social justice

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can workers claim full value?
  • What alternatives to capitalism address this?
A Different Perspective

Complex market forces also affect value distribution.

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