Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: Communist Manifesto

( 1848 ) Commentary by Martin Berger, Youngstown State University (emeritus)

“A spectre is haunting Europe—the spectre of Communism.” - Introduction
“The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggles.” - “Bourgeois and Proletarians”
“Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes, directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.” - “Bourgeois and Proletarians”
“What the bourgeoisie, therefore, produces, above all, is its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.” - “Bourgeois and Proletarians”
“Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working Men of all Countries, Unite!” - “Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various Existing Opposition Parties”

Portrait of Karl Marx (Library of Congress)

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