History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It is men, real, living, who do all this.

When the labourer co-operates systematically with others, he strips off the fetters of his individuality, and develops the capabilities of his species.

It is not history which uses men as a means of achieving - as if it were an individual person - its own ends. History is nothing but the activity of men in pursuit of their ends.

In proportion as the bourgeoisie, i.e., capital, is developed, in the same proportion is the proletariat, the modern working class, developed - a class of labourers, who live only so long as they find work, and who find work only so long as their labour increases capital. These labourers, who must sell themselves piecemeal, are a commodity, like every other article of commerce, and are consequently exposed to all the vicissitudes of competition, to all the fluctuations of the market.

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

The burgeoisie, by the rapid improvement of all instruments of production, by the immensely facilitated means of communication, draws all nations into civilization.

The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.