You are horrified at our intending to do away with private…
““You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property. But in your existing society private property is already done away with for nine-tenths of the population; its existence for the few is solely due to its non-existence in the hands of those nine-tenths. You reproach us, therefore, with intending to do away with a form of property, the necessary condition for whose existence is the non-existence of any property for the immense majority of society. In one word, you reproach us with intending to do away with your property. Precisely so: that is just what we intend.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues that private property already exists only for a minority, so calling for its abolition is essentially targeting the few’s holdings.
In simple terms: Property is already unequal; abolition targets the privileged.
Key Takeaway
Challenge existing property structures.
Themes
politics
economics
inequality
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social reform
- political activism
- economic theory
Key Concepts
class struggle
property rights
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits from current property distribution?
- What alternatives can replace private ownership?
A Different Perspective
Abolition may face resistance from those benefiting from inequality.