Thread: Original Russian

What was the original Russian in one of the early communist constitutions that said: "for those that shall not work, neither shall they eat."

Thanks

Кто не работает - тот не ест.

Actually, it's a proverb in many languages. This expression is ancient, going back to St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 10.

"for those that shall not work, neither shall they eat."

Tell that to Paris Hilton!

On second thought, she doesn't eat.

Originally Posted by mashamania

"for those that shall not work, neither shall they eat."

Tell that to Paris Hilton!

On second thought, she doesn't eat.

HAHA THanks for the help.

As I understand it, that kind of phrase does not occur in a communist constitution. I have heard "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." This is just the opposite of what you posted.

Originally Posted by chaika

As I understand it, that kind of phrase does not occur in a communist constitution. I have heard "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." This is just the opposite of what you posted.

From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs - it's the basic principle of Communism. For Socialism there were another principle - From each according to his abilities, to each according to his labour, which fits perfectly here.

Originally Posted by chaika

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

От каждого по способностям, каждому по потребностям. - Communism
От каждого по способностям, каждому по труду - Socialim
From each according to his abilities, to each according to his work

No I am pretty confident that phrase existed in one of the Communist constitution's and was later changed to what you are saying.

Originally Posted by uno

No I am pretty confident that phrase existed in one of the Communist constitution's.

It did exist:

http://www.hrono.ru/dokum/193_dok/cnst1936.html

Глава I, Статья 12.

later it was removed possibly due to the biblical origin

BTW, the words "communist" and "socialist" meant different things in the USSR and western countries, hence the confusion. The Soviet Union never called itself a communist state, communism was defined as an ideal society of the future. What chaika quoted was meant as an economic principle of that future society. Socialism was defined as a stage after the proletarian revolution when a society is changing from capitalism to communism, and therefore the SU was a socialist country.