Quote by Karl Marx: “Capital is dead labour, which, vampire‑like, lives by sucking living labour.”

This vivid metaphor describes capital as accumulated past work (machines, raw materials) that exploits the current work of living laborers. It suggests that capitalism thrives by extracting value from workers, much like a vampire sustains itself by draining blood, highlighting exploitation.

Published in the midst of the industrial revolution, Das Kapital meticulously analyzed the mechanics of capitalism. This quote encapsulates Marx's theory of exploitation, where capital accumulates by appropriating surplus value from the working class, illustrating the inherently extractive nature of the system.

German philosopher, critic of political economy, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto and the three-volume Das Kapital.