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Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

What Pierre-Joseph Proudhon thinks about capitalism

@pierre-joseph-proudhon · 22 positions · On ppll ↗

French socialist and anarchist thinker (1809 to 1865); author of What Is Property?

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Pierre-Joseph Proudhon on capitalism. See everyone on capitalism

6 dated positions, c. 1840, in their own words. Our reading of what Pierre-Joseph Proudhon has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingEvery argument made for property ends up leading to equality

    Their wordsBy this method of investigation, we soon see that every argument which has been invented in behalf of property, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, always and of necessity leads to equality; that is, to the negation of property.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book

  3. Our readingEqual needs imply equal rights, and with scarce land that means equal possession

    Their wordsIn a word, equality of rights is proved by equality of needs. Now, equality of rights, in the case of a commodity which is limited in amount, can be realized only by equality of possession.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book

  5. Our readingCapitalists do not pay for the collective power of workers' combined labour

    Their wordsTo be accurate, it must be said that the capitalist has paid as many times one day's wage as he has employed laborers each day,—which is not at all the same thing. For he has paid nothing for that immense power which results from the union and harmony of laborers, and the convergence and simultaneousness of their efforts.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book

  7. Our readingTalent cannot be given a money value

    Their wordsNow, it is impossible to place a money value on any talent whatsoever, since talent and money have no common measure.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book

  9. Our readingEvery worker is in lasting debt to society, and the proprietor betrays a trust

    Their wordsThe laborer, in his relation to society, is a debtor who of necessity dies insolvent. The proprietor is an unfaithful guardian who denies the receipt of the deposit committed to his care, and wishes to be paid for his guardianship down to the last day.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book

  11. Our readingProperty exploits the weak, while communism exploits the strong

    Their wordsCommunism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is the exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is the exploitation of the strong by the weak.

    ↗What is Property? (1840; Benjamin Tucker translation)gutenberg.org All 22 from this book