Friedrich Engels Quotes

A collection of quotes by Friedrich Engels.

Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) was a German philosopher, social scientist, and political theorist, renowned for his collaboration with Karl Marx in developing the theories of communism and scientific socialism. Born into a prosperous industrialist family in Barmen, in what is now Germany, Engels had firsthand experience with the working conditions in early industrial capitalism, which shaped his political values.

Engels' most significant contribution to Marxist theory was his work with Marx on "The Communist Manifesto" (1848), an influential pamphlet advocating for the overthrow of the capitalist system. Engels played a crucial role in refining and expanding Marxist thought, particularly through his book "The Condition of the Working Class in England" (1845), which detailed the deplorable living conditions and exploitation faced by industrial workers.

As Marx's closest collaborator, Engels provided crucial financial and intellectual support to him throughout their partnership. After Marx's death in 1883, Engels dedicated himself to editing Marx's unfinished works and publishing his own writings on socio-economic analysis, history, and politics. Engels' works, including "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State" (1884) and "Dialectics of Nature" (1883), further developed and expanded upon his and Marx's theories.

Friedrich Engels was a key figure in the development of socialist thought and his writing continues to influence discussions on class struggle, historical materialism, and the structure of capitalist societies.