--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Private property in the instruments of…" description: "\"Private property in the instruments of production is an institutional device both for dispersing power and for securing effective organization of produ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/henry-calvert-simons-72901_cases_private-property-in-the-instruments-of-p_1861805.jpg" --- # Private property in the instruments of production is an… ![“Private property in the instruments of production is an institutional device both for dispersing power and for securing effective organization of production. The only simple property system is that of a slave society with a single slave owner - which, significantly, is the limiting case of…” quote by Henry Calvert Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/henry-calvert-simons-72901_cases_private-property-in-the-instruments-of-p_1861805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/henry-calvert-simons-72901_cases_private-property-in-the-instruments-of-p_1861805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/henry-calvert-simons-72901_cases_private-property-in-the-instruments-of-p_1861805.jpg) > “Private property in the instruments of production is an institutional device both for dispersing power and for securing effective organization of production. The only simple property system is that of a slave society with a single slave owner - which, significantly, is the limiting case of despotism and of monopoly. Departure from such a system is a fair measure of human progress.” [Henry Calvert Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-calvert-simons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Private property both spreads power and organizes production; a single-owner slave system is the extreme of despotism. Progress moves away from such concentration. **In simple terms:** Property spreads power and organizes work; single-owner systems are extreme. Key Takeaway Promote dispersed ownership for progress. Themes property power production despotism progress Mood analytical critical Type economic political When to use this quote - land reform - antitrust policy - cooperative enterprises - decentralized production Key Concepts economic theory political economy institutional analysis Questions to Reflect On - Can concentrated ownership ever be beneficial? - How does dispersed ownership affect efficiency? A Different Perspective The view may ignore benefits of coordinated ownership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Departure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departure/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Despotism Monopoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism-monopoly-2512310/) [Devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devices/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Human progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-progress/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Monopoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monopoly/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Private property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-property/) [Production Institutional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/production-institutional-2512309/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Property Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-instruments-2512308/) [Property Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-slave-853988/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-owners/) ## Related quotes > [“Here was the true Great Spirit, the divine thread connecting all human endeavor—if you can keep it, it is yours. 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Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## More by Henry Calvert Simons > [Attempting mischievous and salutary irritation of his peers ... 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