It is not enough that the conditions of labour are…
““It is not enough that the conditions of labour are concentrated at one pole of society in the shape of capital, while at the other pole are grouped masses of men who have nothing to sell but their labour-power. Nor is it enough that they are compelled to sell themselves voluntarily. The advance of capitalist production develops a working class which by education, tradition and habit looks upon the requirements of that mode of production as self-evident natural laws. The organization of the capitalist process of production, once it is fully developed, breaks down all resistance.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Capitalism creates a forced labor market where workers must sell their labor, and the system normalizes this as natural, suppressing resistance.
In simple terms: Capitalism forces workers to sell labor and sees it as natural.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge the assumed inevitability of labor markets.
Themes
exploitation
labor
capitalism
ideology
Mood
critical
defiant
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
economic
When to use this quote
- union organizing
- political education
- policy reform
- consumer activism
Key Concepts
class struggle
false consciousness
economic determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society condition acceptance of labor exploitation?
- What can shift perception of labor as natural?
A Different Perspective
Workers may internalize oppression, making resistance harder.