--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as human labor power, and…" description: "\"As long as human labor power, and, consequently, life itself, remain articles of sale and purchase, of exploitation and robbery, the principle of the “..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/leon-trotsky-2558_articles_as-long-as-human-labor-power-and-consequ_1774944.jpg" --- # As long as human labor power, and, consequently, life… ![“As long as human labor power, and, consequently, life itself, remain articles of sale and purchase, of exploitation and robbery, the principle of the “sacredness of human life” remains a shameful lie, uttered with the object of keeping the oppressed slaves in their chains.” quote by Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/leon-trotsky-2558_articles_as-long-as-human-labor-power-and-consequ_1774944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/leon-trotsky-2558_articles_as-long-as-human-labor-power-and-consequ_1774944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/leon-trotsky-2558_articles_as-long-as-human-labor-power-and-consequ_1774944.jpg) > “As long as human labor power, and, consequently, life itself, remain articles of sale and purchase, of exploitation and robbery, the principle of the “sacredness of human life” remains a shameful lie, uttered with the object of keeping the oppressed slaves in their chains.” [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that treating human labor as a commodity undermines true human dignity, exposing a false moral claim. **In simple terms:** Selling labor dehumanizes people. Key Takeaway Reject commodifying human life. Themes exploitation human rights economics Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - workers’ rights activism - policy debates - educational curricula Key Concepts labor as commodity capitalist critique human dignity Questions to Reflect On - Can true dignity exist under capitalism? - What alternatives protect labor? A Different Perspective May underestimate complexities of market economies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Articles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articles/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppressed Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed-slaves-1811975/) [Principle Sacredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-sacredness-1811976/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Robbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robbery/) [Sacredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacredness/) [Sacredness Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacredness-human-1811974/) [Shameful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shameful/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-chains-1811973/) ## Related quotes > [As for us, we were never concerned with the Kantian-priestly and vegetarian-Quaker prattle about the "sacredness of human life." 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