From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs facts for kids

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" is a famous saying. Karl Marx made it popular in his 1875 book, Critique of the Gotha Programme. The original German is "German: Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen".

This idea is about how things like goods, money, and services could be shared freely. In the Marxist view, this would happen in a very advanced communist society. This society would produce so many goods and services that there would be enough for everyone. The main idea is that when socialism fully develops, and production is very high, everyone's needs can be met.

Where the Saying Came From

Karl Marx wrote this saying in his book about a future communist society. He imagined a time when people would not be forced to work. Instead, work would be something they wanted to do. He believed that technology and society would be so advanced that there would be plenty for everyone.

Marx's full idea was:

In a higher phase of communist society, after the enslaving subordination of the individual to the division of labor, and therewith also the antithesis between mental and physical labor, has vanished; after labor has become not only a means of life but life's prime want; after the productive forces have also increased with the all-around development of the individual, and all the springs of co-operative wealth flow more abundantly—only then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be crossed in its entirety and society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!

This means that when society is very developed, and people enjoy their work, there will be enough for everyone.

Even though Marx made the phrase famous, it was already common among socialists. For example, August Becker used it in 1844. Louis Blanc also used it in 1851. French socialists called Saint-Simonists used similar phrases in the 1820s and 1830s. They said things like "from each according to his ability, to each ability according to its work."

Some people think the phrase came from a French writer named Étienne-Gabriel Morelly. In his 1755 book Code of Nature, he suggested laws for a perfect society. These laws included:

I. Nothing in society will belong to anyone, except things they need or use daily.
II. Every citizen will be supported and employed by the public.
III. Every citizen will contribute to the community based on their skills and age.

A similar idea can also be found in the Guilford Covenant from 1639. This was an agreement made by early settlers in New England. It said they would help each other in common work "according to every man's ability, and as need shall require."

Some scholars also connect the phrase to the New Testament in the Bible. The book of Acts of the Apostles describes early Christians sharing everything. It says "distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (διεδίδετο δὲ ἑκάστῳ καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν).

Acts 4:32–35: ³² The believers were united in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own. Instead, they shared everything. ³³ The apostles powerfully told about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. God's great favor was on all of them. ³⁴ No one among them was needy. Those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles' feet. Then it was distributed to anyone who had a need.

Discussions About the Idea

Marx explained that his slogan would only work under certain conditions. These conditions included a society where technology was so advanced that hard physical labor was not needed much. He believed that in such a society, work would become enjoyable and creative. People would want to work for the good of society without being forced. They would develop their unique talents.

The Soviet Union claimed to be in an earlier stage of communism, which they called "socialism." They changed the slogan slightly to: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work (labour investment)." This was put into their 1936 constitution. However, Leon Trotsky, another important figure, called this a "contradictory" idea.

See also

In Spanish: De cada cual según sus capacidades, a cada cual según sus necesidades para niños