Page:Karl Marx - The Poverty of Philosophy - (tr. Harry Quelch) - 1913.djvu/200

 APPENDIX I.

PROUDHON JUDGED BY KARL MARX.*

London, January 24, 1865. Sir,

You ask me for a detailed criticism of the works of Proudhon. I regret that I have not the time to comply with your request. Moreover, I have none of his writings at hand. However, as proof of my goodwill I send you these few hasty notes.

I do not remember the first essays of Proudhon. His schoolboy work on “A Universal Language” shows with what recklessness he grappled with problems for the solution of which he lacked the most elementary knowledge.

His first work: “What is Property?” is very much his best. It was an epoch-making book, if not from the novelty of what he said, at least by the freshness and boldness of his manner of putting everything. The French Socialists, with whose writings he was ac-


 * Extract from the Sozial-Democrat, Nos. 16, 17 and 18

January, 1865, 193