Capitalism Quote by Karl R. Popper
““There is no law of progress, and everything will depend on ourselves. But the actual situation is briefly and fairly summed up by Parkes36 in one sentence: ‘Low wages, long hours, and child labour have been characteristic of capitalism not, as Marx predicted, in its old age, but in its infancy.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Open Society and Its Enemies, 1945 (citation of Parkes)
Capitalism’s early stage is marked by exploitation, contradicting Marx’s later‑stage predictions.
In simple terms: Early capitalism exploits workers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address systemic exploitation.
Themes
economics
labor rights
historical analysis
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
economic
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- workers’ education
- fair trade advocacy
Key Concepts
capitalist development
child labor
wage inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- What systemic changes could reduce exploitation?
- How does history inform current labor policies?
A Different Perspective
Complex causes beyond wages and hours exist.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
