He who does not work, neither shall he eat is Biblical aphrorism derived from II Thessalonians 3:10, which became a slogan for new colonies and socialist societies.

The slogan was used by Captain John Smith in setting up his colony in Jamestown, Virginia (1607-1609).

According to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, it is the first principle of socialism. The phrase is mentioned in his 1917 work, "State and Revolution" (chapter 5, section 3). Through this slogan Lenin explains that in a socialist society (which Karl Marx termed "the first phase of communism") only productive individuals would be allowed access to the articles of consumption.

This is not really directed at lazy or unproductive workers, but rather the bourgeoisie. Since Marxists hold that the bourgeoisie lives off the labor of others, they are seen to be incapable of producing anything. In Marxism, the bourgeoisie would either starve to death (literally and metaphorically) or begin to work beside the proletariat in the factories and farms.

The principle would not apply to those who could not work, such as the elderly or the lame. These groups would have a right to society's products because they were not at fault for their condition. The elderly, furthermore had worked during their youth, and so could not be denied life’s basic necessities.

Use of the term by others

In the 1936 Soviet Constitution, Article Twelve states: Quotation|In the U.S.S.R. work is a duty and a matter of honor for every able-bodied citizen, in accordance with the principle: "He who does not work, neither shall he eat."This constitution was primarily the work of Bukharin. The principle has been loosely applied in nearly all communist states.

ee also

*To each according to his contribution
*Socialism
*Workfare

External links

* [http://marx.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/index.htm "The State and Revolution"] the complete text of Lenin's main philosophical work.
* [http://marx.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/index.htm "The Critique of the Gotha Programme"] The pamphlet from which Lenin draws much of his arguments for the State and Revolution.