Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by the weak.
Pierre-Joseph ProudhonRead
A common danger tends to concord. Communism is the exploitation of the strong by the weak. In Communism, inequality comes from placing mediocrity on a level with excellence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Proudhon critiques Communism, suggesting it promotes mediocrity while undermining excellence.
In this quote, Proudhon argues that Communism, in its attempt to create equality, ultimately leads to the exploitation of the capable by the less capable. He posits that by leveling mediocrity with excellence, society fails to recognize and reward true talent and hard work, thus creating a new form of inequality that arises not from capitalism, but from the ideology itself.
Themes
CommunismEqualityInequalityMediocrityExcellence
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on economic systems, this quote could emphasize the potential pitfalls of enforcing equality through policies.
More from Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
All quotes βI build no system. I ask an end to privilege, the abolition of slavery, equality of rights, and the reign of law. Justice, nothing else; that is the alpha and omega of my argument: to others I leave the business of governing the world.
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All men in their hearts, I say, bear witness to these truths; they need only to be made to understand it.
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To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.
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As man seeks justice in equality, so society seeks order in anarchy.
Pierre-Joseph ProudhonRead
The possessions of the rich are stolen property.
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