Appropriation Quote by Karl Marx
““Communism deprives no man of the power to appropriate the products of society: all that it does is to deprive him of the power to subjugate the labor of others by means of such appropriation. It has been objected, that upon the abolition of private property all work will cease, and universal laziness will overtake us. According to this, bourgeois society ought long ago to have gone to the dogs through sheer idleness; for those of its members who work, acquire nothing, and those who acquire anything, do not work.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The German Ideology, 1845
Communism removes the power to dominate others’ labor, but critics fear it leads to idleness and loss of work.
In simple terms: Critics worry communism causes laziness.
Key Takeaway
Consider incentives in collective systems.
Themes
politics
economics
labor
ideology
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- economic planning
- social movements
Key Concepts
marxism
collectivism
property rights
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates work beyond ownership?
- How can societies balance equality and productivity?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all individuals will act without personal incentive, which may not hold.
