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79 Famous Quotes By Karl Marx That Show What A Great Thinker He Was

Famous As: Philosopher & Economist - Famous for His Theory of 'Marxism' 
Born On: May 5, 1818
Died On: March 14, 1883
Born In: Trier, Germany
Founder / Co Founder: Modern sociology
Died At Age: 64

The German revolutionary socialist Karl Marx was also a philosopher, economist, sociologist, and journalist. Undoubtedly, the most influential socialist thinker to emerge in the 19th century, he did not achieve much fame during his lifetime but his popularity soared in the decades following his death. As a young man he studied law for sometime before earning a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Jena. His collaboration with German thinker Friedrich Engels led to several influential works including the 1848 pamphlet ‘The Communist Manifesto.’ Over his long career, Marx propounded several theories about society, economics and politics which came to be collectively known as Marxism.  Regarded as one of the most influential figures in human history, his contribution to the development of intellectual, economic, and political history has been immense. This collection of quotes by Karl Marx brings to you his knowledge and wisdom in form of easy to read and short quotations.

The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.

The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.

Karl Marx
The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.

[These words are also inscribed upon his grave]

The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it. [These words are also inscribed upon his grave]

Karl Marx
The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.

The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.

Karl Marx
Hegel remarks somewhere that all great, world-historical facts and personages occur, as it were, twice. He has forgotten to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.

Hegel remarks somewhere that all great, world-historical facts and personages occur, as it were, twice. He has forgotten to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.

Karl Marx
Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.

Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.

Karl Marx
I am nothing but I must be everything.

I am nothing but I must be everything.

Karl Marx
Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.

Workingmen of all countries unite!

Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries unite!

Karl Marx
Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough!

Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough!

Karl Marx
Perseus wore a magic cap down over his eyes and ears as a make-believe that there are no monsters.

Perseus wore a magic cap down over his eyes and ears as a make-believe that there are no monsters.

Karl Marx
To be radical is to grasp things by the root.

To be radical is to grasp things by the root.

Karl Marx
It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.

It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.

Karl Marx
Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.

Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.

Karl Marx
If anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist.

[In a letter about the peculiar 'Marxism' which arose in France 1882]

If anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist. [In a letter about the peculiar 'Marxism' which arose in France 1882]

Karl Marx
Communism is the riddle of history solved, and it knows itself to be this solution.

Communism is the riddle of history solved, and it knows itself to be this solution.

Karl Marx
The proletarians have nothing to loose but their chains. They have a world to win.

The proletarians have nothing to loose but their chains. They have a world to win.

Karl Marx
In proportion therefore, as the repulsiveness of the work increases, the wage decreases.

In proportion therefore, as the repulsiveness of the work increases, the wage decreases.

Karl Marx
There is no royal road to science, and only those who do not dread the fatiguing climb of its steep paths have a chance of gaining its luminous summits.

There is no royal road to science, and only those who do not dread the fatiguing climb of its steep paths have a chance of gaining its luminous summits.

Karl Marx
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

Karl Marx
The increase in value of the world of things is directly proportional to the decrease in value of the human world.

The increase in value of the world of things is directly proportional to the decrease in value of the human world.

Karl Marx
Society does not consist of individuals, but expresses the sum of interrelations, the relations within which these individuals stand.

Society does not consist of individuals, but expresses the sum of interrelations, the relations within which these individuals stand.

Karl Marx
Capitalism: Teach a man to fish, but the fish he catches aren't his. They belong to the person paying him to fish, and if he's lucky, he might get paid enough to buy a few fish for himself.

Capitalism: Teach a man to fish, but the fish he catches aren't his. They belong to the person paying him to fish, and if he's lucky, he might get paid enough to buy a few fish for himself.

Karl Marx
Then the world will be for the common people, and the sounds of happiness will reach the deepest springs. Ah! Come! People of every land, how can you not be roused.

Then the world will be for the common people, and the sounds of happiness will reach the deepest springs. Ah! Come! People of every land, how can you not be roused.

Karl Marx
Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.

Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.

Karl Marx
The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother's care, shall be in state institutions.

The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother's care, shall be in state institutions.

Karl Marx
Moments are the elements of profit

Moments are the elements of profit

Karl Marx
Education is free. Freedoom of education shall be enjoyed under the condition fixed by law and under the supreme control of the state

Education is free. Freedoom of education shall be enjoyed under the condition fixed by law and under the supreme control of the state

Karl Marx
If you love without evoking love in return - if through the vital expression of yourself as a loving person you fail to become a loved person, then your love is impotent, it is a misfortune.

If you love without evoking love in return - if through the vital expression of yourself as a loving person you fail to become a loved person, then your love is impotent, it is a misfortune.

Karl Marx
The best thing for rich people to do is become Batman

The best thing for rich people to do is become Batman

Karl Marx
Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.

Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.

Karl Marx
The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.

The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.

Karl Marx