By bourgeoisie is meant the class of modern capitalists, owners of the means of social production and employers of wage labor. By proletariat, the class of modern wage laborers who, having no means of production of their own, are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live.

Summary

This quote provides a concise definition of the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes. The bourgeoisie refers to the capitalist class, consisting of individuals who own the resources and factories, and employ wage laborers. In contrast, the proletariat class comprises wage laborers who lack their own means of production and have to sell their labor to secure their livelihood. This delineation highlights the core distinction between the classes in society based on ownership and dependency on wage labor.

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