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The class of the wholly propertyless, who are obliged to sell their labor to the bourgeoisie in order to get, in exchange, the means of subsistence for their support. This is called the class of proletarians, or the proletariat.

— Friedrich Engels Principles of Communism (1847)

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More quotes by Friedrich Engels

The capitalists soon had everything in their hands and nothing remained to the workers.

Principles of Communism (1847)

Hegel was the first to state correctly the relation between freedom and necessity. To him, freedom is the insight into necessity.

Big industry, competition and generally the individualistic organization of production have become a fetter which it must and will shatter.

Principles of Communism (1847)

Abolish competition and replace it with association.

Principles of Communism (1847)

Freedom does not consist in any dreamt-of independence from natural laws, but in the knowledge of these laws, and in the possibility this gives of systematically making them work towards definite ends.

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