p Under communism labour is universal, voluntary, free from exploitation and founded on social ownership and the highest possible level of technical development; it is highlyproductive and organised scientifically; it is creative, organically combining physical and mental efforts; it has 239 no quota; it is unpaid and man devotes all his ability to it; and, lastly, it is a vital need. Communist labour, Lenin wrote, “is labour performed gratis for the benefit of society, labour performed not as a definite duty, not for the purpose of obtaining a right to certain products, not according to previously established and legally fixed quotas, but voluntary labour, irrespective of quotas; it is labour performed without expectation of reward, without reward as a condition, labour performed because it has become a habit to work for the common good, and because of a conscious realisation (that has become a habit) of the necessity of working for the common good—labour as the requirement of a healthy organism”.  [239•* 

p Elements of communist labour are to be found in socialist society. During the early years of Soviet power the people organised what have become known as communist subbotniks.  [239•**  Lenin highly appraised this voluntary work, regarding it as the embryo of the new, communist attitude to labour. The subbotniks laid the beginning for the socialist emulation movement, which acquired new forms at the different phases of social development. In the Soviet Union the present movement of communist shock workers and communist work teams embraces millions of people who are learning to work and live in a communist way.

p True, in this movement cases now and then crop up of elements of formalism, of a desire to draw in as many people as possible with the result that the much-coveted title of communist shock worker is conferred upon people who do not deserve it. Despite these shortcomings, one cannot fail to see the mighty spirit of socialist emulation and the striving to work to the best of one’s ability, that have embraced broad sections of Soviet workers, collective farmers and intellectuals.

p The sacred rule of socialist society that he who does not work neither shall he eat has long ago become a law of life for the majority of Soviet citizens. Many of them put their hearts into their work and cannot imagine life without their chosen profession, without labour, which is for 240 them a source of joy and happiness and a vital need. Yet under socialism labour is not a need of all members of society. There still are idlers, people who shirk socially useful work and seek to enrich themselves at the expense of society. Moreover, there are people who perform their duties unconscientiously. Neglect of one’s duties will be ended when communism is built.

p Talent and vocation, sincere enthusiasm and love of one’s profession are indispensable for fruitful work and for a genuinely innovatory attitude to work. Most Soviet people have that attitude to their work. At the same time, in socialist society the choice of a profession and place of work are sometimes determined by other, particularly material, considerations. If it is not turned into moneyhunting the desire to receive more for one’s work is quite natural, for under socialism the material incentive stimulates the development of production and, when applied correctly, coincides with social interests. However, if a person is spurred on solely by the desire to earn more and if he does not like his work he will never be able to give of his best to society no matter how conscientiously he works. To some extent, even though it be inconsiderable, he will remain in debt to society, for he will be giving it less than if he had been doing work that he liked.

In communist society people will have every opportunity to take up work in which they can display all their talents and in which, consequently, they can be of the greatest use to society. Resting on the highest possible level of automation in production and on a high level of social consciousness, communist society not only gives people equal opportunities to develop their talents but also creates the most favourable conditions for the fullest and most expedient utilisation of the capabilities of each person. It is a society in which all people will always work according to their abilities. There can be no other attitude to work under communism, for while remaining man’s prime faculty labour will become a vital need. “It is impossible,” states the Programme of the C.P.S.U., “for a man in communist society not to work, for neither his social consciousness nor public opinion would permit it. Work according to one’s ability will become a habit, a prime necessity of life for every member of society.”