--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The circulation of commodities is the…" description: "\"The circulation of commodities is the original precondition of the circulation of money.\" — Karl Marx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg" --- # The circulation of commodities is the original… ![“The circulation of commodities is the original precondition of the circulation of money.” quote by Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg) > “The circulation of commodities is the original precondition of the circulation of money.” [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Commodity exchange precedes money; money arises from the need to trade goods. **In simple terms:** Trade of goods creates money. Key Takeaway Understand economic foundations. Themes economics trade money Mood analytical critical Type philosophical economic When to use this quote - business - finance - policy making Key Concepts marxism historical materialism Questions to Reflect On - What modern systems challenge this view? - How does digital currency fit? A Different Perspective Assumes simple barter origins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circulation/) [Circulation Commodities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circulation-commodities-3134926/) [Circulation Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circulation-money-1976629/) [Commodities Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodities-original-3134927/) [Commodity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commodity/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Original Precondition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-precondition-3134928/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) ## Related quotes > [When depreciated, mutilated, or debased coinage (or currency) is in concurrent circulation with money of high value in terms of precious metals, the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gresham/when-depreciated-mutilated-or-debased-coinage-or-currency-is-in/) [Thomas Gresham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gresham/) > [Let the influx of money be ever so great, if there be no confidence, property will sink in value... The circulation of confidence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/let-the-influx-of-money-be-ever-so-great-if-there-be-no-confidence/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-circulation-of-confidence-is-better-than-the-circulation-of-money/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [People now realize that globalization is not only for the multi-nationals and the circulation of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakhdar-brahimi/people-now-realize-that-globalization-is-not-only-for-the-multi/) [Lakhdar Brahimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakhdar-brahimi/) > [“Byproduct of the circulation of commodities, human circulation considered as a form of consumption, tourism comes down fundamentally to the freedom to go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mcdonough/byproduct-of-the-circulation-of-commodities-human-circulation/) [Tom McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mcdonough/) > [GDP simply measures the circulation of money in the economy, not whether or not the outcome of using that money is positive or negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/gdp-simply-measures-the-circulation-of-money-in-the-economy-not/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) > [There is no tariff so injurious as that with which sectarian bigotry guards its commodities. It dwarfs the soul by shutting out truths from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-is-no-tariff-so-injurious-as-that-with-which-sectarian-bigotry/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Money is different from all other commodities: other things being equal, more shoes, or more discoveries of oil or copper benefit society, since they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/money-is-different-from-all-other-commodities-other-things-being/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [A circuit performed by a capital and meant to be a periodical process, not an individual act, is called its turnover. The duration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/a-circuit-performed-by-a-capital-and-meant-to-be-a-periodical-process/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Each piece of money is a mere coin, or means of circulation, only so long as it actually circulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/each-piece-of-money-is-a-mere-coin-or-means-of-circulation-only-so/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The circulation of capital realizes value , while living labour creates value .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-circulation-of-capital-realizes-value-while-living-labour-creates/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [These numerous points at which money is withdrawn from circulation and accumulated in numerous individual hoards or potential money-capitals appears as so many obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/these-numerous-points-at-which-money-is-withdrawn-from-circulation/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [There is a physical relation between physical things. But it is different with commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/there-is-a-physical-relation-between-physical-things-but-it-is/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money appears as measure (in Homer, e.g. oxen) earlier than as medium of exchange, because in barter each commodity is still its own medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-appears-as-measure-in-homer-e-g-oxen-earlier-than-as-medium-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More by Karl Marx > [“Economists have a singular method of procedure. There are only two kinds of institutions for them, artificial and natural. The institutions of feudalism are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/economists-have-a-singular-method-of-procedure-there-are-only-two/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As the variable capital always stays in the hands of the capitalist in some form or other, it cannot be claimed in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-the-variable-capital-always-stays-in-the-hands-of-the-capitalist/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As a beast of toil an ox is fixed capital. If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that-determines-their-being-but-on/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Philosophy is to the real world as masturbation is to sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/philosophy-is-to-the-real-world-as-masturbation-is-to-sex/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/go-on-get-out-last-words-are-for-fools-who-haven-t-said-enough/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“If you love without evoking love in return - if through the vital expression of yourself as a loving person you fail to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-you-love-without-evoking-love-in-return-if-through-the-vital/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Do not be deluded by the abstract word Freedom. Whose freedom? Not the freedom of one individual in relation to another, but freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/do-not-be-deluded-by-the-abstract-word-freedom-whose-freedom-not-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The burgeoisie, by the rapid improvement of all instruments of production, by the immensely facilitated means of communication, draws all nations into civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-burgeoisie-by-the-rapid-improvement-of-all-instruments-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Ideas do not exist separately from language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/ideas-do-not-exist-separately-from-language/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [So in Jewry we recognise a contemporary universal anti-social phenomenon, which has reached its present pitch through a process of, historical development in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/so-in-jewry-we-recognise-a-contemporary-universal-anti-social/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The class struggle necessarily leads to the dictatorship of the proletariat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-class-struggle-necessarily-leads-to-the-dictatorship-of-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [If this labourer were in possession of his own means of production, and was satisfied to live as a labourer, he need not work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-this-labourer-were-in-possession-of-his-own-means-of-production/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) [Explore all 571 Karl Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More Circulation quotes > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The monopoly of a single bank is certainly an evil. The multiplication of them was intended to cure it; but it multiplied an influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-monopoly-of-a-single-bank-is-certainly-an-evil-the-multiplication/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [The moment man cuts himself off from living connection with the human race and its needs, he begins to die from poor circulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-moment-man-cuts-himself-off-from-living-connection-with-the-human/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Narration is as much a part of human nature as breath and the circulation of the blood… storytelling is intrinsic to biological time, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/narration-is-as-much-a-part-of-human-nature-as-breath-and-the/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [These numerous points at which money is withdrawn from circulation and accumulated in numerous individual hoards or potential money-capitals appears as so many obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/these-numerous-points-at-which-money-is-withdrawn-from-circulation/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [If all bank loans were paid, there would not be a dollar of coin or currency in circulation. Someone has to borrow every dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-hemphill/if-all-bank-loans-were-paid-there-would-not-be-a-dollar-of-coin-or/) [Robert W. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-hemphill/) > [Never for a moment do we lay aside our mistrust of the ideals established by society, and of the convictions which are kept by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/never-for-a-moment-do-we-lay-aside-our-mistrust-of-the-ideals/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Money possesses no value to the state other than that given to it by circulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/money-possesses-no-value-to-the-state-other-than-that-given-to-it-by/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What you're looking at there is my arm, going into the rock... and there it is - stuck. It's been without circulation for 24…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-ralston/what-you-re-looking-at-there-is-my-arm-going-into-the-rock-and-there/) [Aron Ralston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-ralston/) > [What I find really works for me is dry body brushing; it helps improve the circulation and exfoliates your skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/what-i-find-really-works-for-me-is-dry-body-brushing-it-helps-improve/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [Sophos turned red, and I wondered about the circulation of his blood; maybe his body kept an extra supply of it in his head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/sophos-turned-red-and-i-wondered-about-the-circulation-of-his-blood/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) [Browse all 225 Circulation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circulation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The circulation of commodities is the original precondition of the circulation of money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Marx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-original-precondition-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circulation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-original-precondition-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f04/karl-marx-399_circulation_the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-or_1134803.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The circulation of commodities is the original precondition of the circulation of money.” — Karl Marx", "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": "Karl Marx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The circulation of commodities is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-original-precondition-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-circulation-of-commodities-is-the-original-precondition-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```