Things are produced only so long as they can be produced with a profit.
 Karl Marx, Das Kapital (1894). copy citation

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Author Karl Marx
Source Das Kapital
Topic profit
Date 1894
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Capital-Volume-...

Context

“And as soon as formation of capital were to fall into the hands of a few established big capitals, for which the mass of profit compensates for the falling rate of profit, the vital flame of production would be altogether extinguished. It would die out. The rate of profit is the motive power of capitalist production. Things are produced only so long as they can be produced with a profit. Hence the concern of the English economists over the decline of the rate of profit. The fact that the bare possibility of this happening should worry Ricardo, shows his profound understanding of the conditions of capitalist production.” source