按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
money represent the labor of its possessor； but it nearly always
represents the labor of other people； the past or future labor of
men； it is a representative of the obligation of others to labor；
which has been established by force。
Money； in its most accurate and at the same the simple application；
is the conventional stamp which confers a right； or； more correctly；
a possibility； of taking advantage of the labors of other people。 In
its ideal significance； money should confer this right； or this
possibility； only when it serves as the equivalent of labor； and such
money might be in a community in which no violence existed。 But just
as soon as violence； that is to say； the possibility of profiting by
the labors of others without toil of one's own； exists in a
community； then that profiting by the labors of other men is also
expressed by money； without any distinction of the persons on whom
that violence is exercised。
The landed proprietor has imposed upon his serfs natural debts； a
certain quantity of linen； grain； and cattle； or a corresponding
amount of money。 One household has procured the cattle； but has paid
money in lieu of linen。 The proprietor takes the money to a certain
amount only； because he knows that for that money they will make him
the same quantity of linen； （generally he takes a little more； in
order to be sure that they will make it for the same amount）； and
this money； evidently； represents for the proprietor the obligation
of other people to toil。
The peasant gives the money as an obligation； to he knows not whom；
but to people； and there are many of them； who undertake for this
money to make so much linen。 But the people who undertake to make
the linen； do so because they have not succeeded in raising sheep；
and in place of the sheep； they must pay money； but the peasant who
takes money for his sheep takes it because he must pay for grain
which did not bear well this year。 The same thing goes on throughout
this realm； and throughout the whole world。
A man sells the product of his labor； past； present or to come；
sometimes his food； and generally not because money constitutes for
him a convenient means of exchange。 He could have effected the
barter without money； but he does so because money is exacted from
him by violence as a lien on his labor。
When the sovereign of Egypt exacted labor from his slaves； the slaves
gave all their labor； but only their past and present labor； their
future labor they could not give。 But with the dissemination of
money tokens； and the credit which had its rise in them； it became
possible to sell one's future toil for money。 Money； with co…
existent violence in the community； only represents the possibility
of a new form of impersonal slavery； which has taken the place of
personal slavery。 The slave…owner has a right to the labor of Piotr；
Ivan； and Sidor。 But the owner of money； in a place where money is
demanded from all； has a right to the toil of all those nameless
people who are in need of money。 Money has set aside all the
oppressive features of slavery； under which an owner knows his right
to Ivan； and with them it has set aside all humane relations between
the owner and the slave； which mitigated the burden of personal
thraldom。
I will not allude to the fact； that such a condition of things is；
possibly； necessary for the development of mankind； for progress； and
so forth；that I do not contest。 I have merely tried to elucidate
to myself the idea of money； and that universal error into which I
fell when I accepted money as the representative of labor。 I became
convinced； after experience； that money is not the representative of
labor； but； in the majority of cases； the representative of violence；
or of especially complicated sharp practices founded on violence。
Money； in our day； has completely lost that significance which it is
very desirable that it should possess； as the representative of one's
own labor； such a significance it has only as an exception； but； as a
general rule； it has been converted into a right or a possibility of
profiting by the toil of others。
The dissemination of money； of credit； and of all sorts of money
tokens； confirms this significance of money ever more and more。
Money is a new form of slavery； which differs from the old form of
slavery only in its impersonality； its annihilation of all humane
relations with the slave。
Moneymoney； is a value which is always equal to itself； and is
always considered legal and righteous； and whose use is regarded as
not immoral； just as the right of slavery was regarded。
In my young days； the game of loto was introduced into the clubs。
Everybody rushed to play it； and； as it was said； many ruined
themselves； rendered their families miserable； lost other people's
money； and government funds； and committed suicide； and the game was
prohibited； and it remains prohibited to this day。
I remember to have seen old and unsentimental gamblers； who told me
that this game was particularly pleasing because you did not see from
whom you were winning； as is the case in other games； a lackey
brought； not money； but chips； each man lost a little stake； and his
disappointment was not visible 。 。 。 It is the same with roulette；
which is everywhere prohibited； and not without reason。
It is the same with money。 I possess a magic； inexhaustible ruble； I
cut off my coupons； and have retired from all the business of the
world。 Whom do I injure；I； the most inoffensive and kindest of
men？ But this is nothing more than playing at loto or roulette；
where I do not see the man who shoots himself； because of his losses；
after procuring for me those coupons which I cut off from the bonds
so accurately with a strictly right…angled corner。
I have done nothing； I do nothing； and I shall do nothing； except cut
off those coupons； and I firmly believe that money is the
representative of labor！ Surely； this is amazing！ And people talk
of madmen； after that！ Why； what degree of lunacy can be more
frightful than this？ A sensible； educated； in all other respects
sane man lives in a senseless manner； and soothes himself for not
uttering the word which it is indispensably necessary that he should
utter； with the idea that there is some sense in his conclusions； and
he considers himself a just man。 Couponsthe representatives of
toil！ Toil！ Yes； but of whose toil？ Evidently not of the man who
owns them； but of him who labors。
Slavery is far from being suppressed。 It has been suppressed in Rome
and in America； and among us： but only certain laws have been
abrogated； only the word； not the thing； has been put down。 Slavery
is the freeing of ourselves alone from the toil which is necessary
for the satisfaction of our demands； by the transfer of this toil to
others； and wherever there exists a man who does not work； not
because others work lovingly for him； but where he possesses the
power of not working； and forces others to work for him； there
slavery exists。 There too； where； as in all European societies；
there are people who make use of the labor of thousands of men； and
regard this as t