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Marx could read all the leading European languages and write in three：German, French and English．He was fond of saying,“A foreign language is a weapon in the struggle of life．”At fifty he took up the study of Russian．Although the language had on close relation to any of the modern or ancient language he knew．He made such progress in six months that he was able to enjoy reading Russian poetry and prose(散文)works．
Even his enemies had to admit(承认)that he was a man of great learning：not only in his special field of economics, but also in history, philosophy, and the literature of all countries．You could question him at any time on any subject and get the most proper answer．
Although he went to bed very late, he was always up between eight or nine in the morning．Having drunk a cup of black coffee and read through his newspapers．He would go to his study and work there till two or three next morning, breaking off only for meals, and when the weather allowed, for a walk on Hampstead Heath．In the course of the day he slept for an hour or two on the sofa．For Marx, work had become a passion(爱好)and he was so absorbed in it that he often forgot his meals．He often had to be called again and again before he came down to the dining-room．But hardly had he eaten the last mouthful when he was back in his study again．
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