Amount Quote by Karl Marx
“A commodity has a value because it is a crystallization of social labor. The greatness of its value, or its relative value, depends upon the greater or less amount of that social substance contained in it; that is to say, on the relative mass of labor necessary for its production.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Capital, Volume I, 1867
Value stems from socially required labor; its magnitude reflects labor intensity in production.
In simple terms: Value equals labor needed to produce.
Key Takeaway
Assess labor input to understand value.
Themes
economics
labor
value theory
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
theoretical
economic
When to use this quote
- pricing
- wage negotiations
- production planning
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
marxism
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labor intensity affect pricing?
- What alternatives exist labor labor‑based value?
A Different Perspective
Labor measurement can be imprecise.
