--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is a Communist? One who hath…" description: "\"What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings, Idler or bungler, or both, he is willing, To fork out his copper an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png" --- # What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal… ![“What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings, Idler or bungler, or both, he is willing, To fork out his copper and pocket your shilling.” quote by Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png) > “What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings, Idler or bungler, or both, he is willing, To fork out his copper and pocket your shilling.” [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A communist seeks equal share of unequal earnings, willing to sacrifice personal gain. **In simple terms:** Communism demands equal distribution despite unequal work. Key Takeaway Question fairness of equal sharing. Themes politics economics equality critique Mood analytical skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - labor unions - public discourse Key Concepts redistribution labor ideology Questions to Reflect On - Is equal division feasible? - What motivates collective sacrifice? A Different Perspective Idealism may ignore practical incentives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Copper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copper/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I used to go from place to place by tram. A shilling would take you all around London and the suburbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-used-to-go-from-place-to-place-by-tram-a-shilling-would-take-you/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [He who recognizes no higher logic than that of the shilling may become a very rich man, and yet remain all the while an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/he-who-recognizes-no-higher-logic-than-that-of-the-shilling-may/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Go where you will, if a shilling can there be procured, you may expect to meet with individuals in search of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/go-where-you-will-if-a-shilling-can-there-be-procured-you-may-expect/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the people who despise money. They are hypocrites or fools. Money is like a sixth sense without which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-people-who-despise-money-they-are/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Never without a shilling in my purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/never-without-a-shilling-in-my-purse/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Paint me as I am. If you leave out the scars and wrinkles, I will not pay you a shilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/paint-me-as-i-am-if-you-leave-out-the-scars-and-wrinkles-i-will-not/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [It is not the shilling I give you that counts, but the warmth that it carries with it from my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/it-is-not-the-shilling-i-give-you-that-counts-but-the-warmth-that-it/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“A Queens Shilling A Queens shilling taken in faith, service given without question Comrades fallen in foreign fields, now I return home again Parades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcdonald/a-queens-shilling-a-queens-shilling-taken-in-faith-service-given/) [David McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcdonald/) > [Many writers hate the shilling process, and I understand that. However, it's really the only thing about the publication process you can somewhat control.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanya-yanagihara/many-writers-hate-the-shilling-process-and-i-understand-that-however/) [Hanya Yanagihara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanya-yanagihara/) > [Don't be constantly selling and shilling. Figure out how you can help others, tell them stories, and share openly everything you know so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-chapman/don-t-be-constantly-selling-and-shilling-figure-out-how-you-can-help/) [C.C. Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-chapman/) > [With one hand he put A penny in the urn of poverty, And with the other took a shilling out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/with-one-hand-he-put-a-penny-in-the-urn-of-poverty-and-with-the-other/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [A shilling life will give you all the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/a-shilling-life-will-give-you-all-the-facts/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [If Parliament may take from me one shilling in the pound, what security have I for the other nineteen?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/if-parliament-may-take-from-me-one-shilling-in-the-pound-what/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [What better proof of love can there be than money? A ten-shilling note shows incontrovertibly just how mad about you a man is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/what-better-proof-of-love-can-there-be-than-money-a-ten-shilling-note/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## More by Ebenezer Elliott > [Written in support of abolishing the Corn Laws, it became Elliott's most famous poem. The Peoples Anthem When wilt thou save the people Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/written-in-support-of-abolishing-the-corn-laws-it-became-elliott-s/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Life is short, and time is swift; Roses fade, and shadows shift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/life-is-short-and-time-is-swift-roses-fade-and-shadows-shift/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Stern fate and time Will have their victims; and the best die first, Leaving the bad still strong, though past their prime, To curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/stern-fate-and-time-will-have-their-victims-and-the-best-die-first/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Daisies infinite Uplift in praise their little growing hands, O'er every hill that under heaven expands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/daisies-infinite-uplift-in-praise-their-little-growing-hands-o-er/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Almighty Father! let thy lowly child, Strong in his love of truth, be wisely bold,-- A patriot bard, by sycophants reviled. Let him live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/almighty-father-let-thy-lowly-child-strong-in-his-love-of-truth-be/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Again the violet of our early days Drinks beauteous azure from the golden sun, And kindles into fragrance at his blaze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/again-the-violet-of-our-early-days-drinks-beauteous-azure-from-the/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [The quivering flesh, though torture-torn, may live, but souls, once deeply wounded, heal no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/the-quivering-flesh-though-torture-torn-may-live-but-souls-once/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Sleep, to the homeless thou art home; the friendless find in thee a friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/sleep-to-the-homeless-thou-art-home-the-friendless-find-in-thee-a/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [God said,--"Let there be light!" Grim darkness felt His might, And fled away; Then startled seas and mountains cold Shone forth, all bright in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/god-said-let-there-be-light-grim-darkness-felt-his-might-and-fled/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Tis toil's reward, that sweetens industry, As love inspires with strength the enraptur'd thrush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/tis-toil-s-reward-that-sweetens-industry-as-love-inspires-with/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Things of today? Deeds which are harvest for Eternity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/things-of-today-deeds-which-are-harvest-for-eternity/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [If't were not for my cat and dog, I think I could not live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/if-t-were-not-for-my-cat-and-dog-i-think-i-could-not-live/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [The streams, rejoiced that winter's work is done, Talk of to-morrow's cowslips as they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/the-streams-rejoiced-that-winter-s-work-is-done-talk-of-to-morrow-s/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) [Explore all 14 Ebenezer Elliott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) David L. Weimer > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings, Idler or bungler, or both, he is willing, To fork out his copper and pocket your shilling.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ebenezer Elliott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnings-for-equal-division-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capitalism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnings-for-equal-division-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/ebenezer-elliott-34518_capitalism_what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnin_2755722.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is a Communist? One who hath yearnings For equal division of unequal earnings, Idler or bungler, or…” — Ebenezer Elliott", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ebenezer Elliott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is a Communist? One who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnings-for-equal-division-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/what-is-a-communist-one-who-hath-yearnings-for-equal-division-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```