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About this quote

What does it mean?
Marx says communism does not deny anyone the fruits of their labor, only the ability to enslave others through appropriation.
In plain terms
Communism allows personal gain but bans exploiting others.
What can you take from it?
Consider economic systems that balance personal reward with collective fairness.

Where it applies

  • debating wealth distribution
  • designing cooperative enterprises

Putting it to work

  • building equitable profit‑sharing models
  • educating about cooperative ownership

Questions to consider

  • How can societies ensure fair labor rewards?
  • What mechanisms prevent exploitation?

Another view

Implementation of such ideals has historically faced challenges.

More from Karl Marx

  1. What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.

    Permalink to quote #36
  2. But every class struggle is a political struggle.

    Permalink to quote #38
  3. A spectre is haunting Europe; the spectre of Communism.

    Permalink to quote #35

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