The smallest fortune, the most insignificant establishment, the setting in motion of the lowest industry, demand the concurrence of so many different kinds of labor and skill, that one man could not possibly execute the whole of them.

It is astonishing that the economists never have called attention to this fact.

Strike a balance, then, between the capitalist's receipts and his payments.
The laborer needs a salary which will enable him to live while he works; for unless he consumes, he cannot produce.

Whoever employs a man owes him maintenance and support, or wages enough to procure the same.
That is the first thing to be done in all production.

I admit, for the moment, that in this respect the capitalist has discharged his duty.
It is necessary that the laborer should find in his production, in addition to his present support, a guarantee of his future support; otherwise the source of production would dry up, and his productive capacity would become exhausted: in other words, the labor accomplished must give birth perpetually to new labor--such is the universal law of reproduction.