Alive Quote by Karl Marx
“Labor, being itself a commodity, is measured as such by the labor time needed to produce the labor-commodity. And what is needed to produce this labor-commodity? Just enough labor time to produce the objects indispensable to the constant maintenance of labor, that is, to keep the worker alive and in a condition to propagate his race. The natural price of labor is no other than the wage minimum.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Capital, Volume I, 1867
Labor is treated as a commodity whose value is determined by the time required to produce it, which includes the worker’s subsistence needs.
In simple terms: Labor’s value equals the time to keep workers alive.
Key Takeaway
Recognize labor’s human cost beyond wages.
Themes
economics
labor
capital
exploitation
humanity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
political
When to use this quote
- wage negotiations
- policy making
- union organizing
- social welfare planning
Key Concepts
commodity theory
value theory
social reproduction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does treating labor as a commodity affect workers’ dignity?
- What alternatives exist to wage minimums?
A Different Perspective
Ignores non‑economic motivations of work.
