The supposition of their labouring is bound up with the supposition of their existence.

To suppose that the labourers as a whole could permanently cease to labour, is like supposing that they could exist and yet permanently cease to breathe.

They can cease to labour for moments, just as for moments a man can hold his breath, as they do on the occasion of a strike; but they can do so for moments only.

Except in a region where climatic conditions are exceptional, what makes men labour is not an employing class, but nature.

Directive ability does not _make_ them labour; it finds them labouring.