Centralize property in the hands of a few and the millions…
“Centralize property in the hands of a few and the millions are under bondage to property - a bondage as absolute and deplorable as if their limbs were covered with manacles. Abstract all property from the hands of labor and you thereby reduce labor to dependence; and that dependence becomes as complete a servitude as the master could fix upon his slave.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Concentrating property in few hands creates a severe, almost physical bondage for the many, turning labor into dependency.
In simple terms: When few own property, most become enslaved by dependence.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for equitable property distribution.
Themes
economics
social justice
property
inequality
labor
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- land reform
- policy debate
- worker organization
Key Concepts
class struggle
dependency theory
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any inequality inevitable for progress?
- How can societies balance ownership and freedom?
A Different Perspective
Such concentration can also spur innovation and growth.