Knowledge in a Nugget

I have never seen a class so deeply demoralised, so incurably debased by selfishness, so corroded within, so incapable of progress, as the English bourgeoisie; and I mean by this, especially the bourgeoisie proper, particularly the Liberal, Corn Law repealing bourgeoisie.

For it nothing exists in this world, except for the sake of money, itself not excluded. It knows no bliss save that of rapid gain, no pain save that of losing gold. In the presence of this avarice and lust of gain, it is not possible for a single human sentiment or opinion to remain untainted.

Engles, F., 1845: Condition of the Working Class in England: The Attitude of the Bourgeoisie Towards the Proletariat. Available at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/