"[T]he artist sells the work of his brush and in this he is a merchant. The writer sells to any who will buy, let his ideas be what they will. The teacher sells his knowledge of books—often in too low a market—to those who would have this knowledge passed on to the young. The doctor... too is a merchant. His stock-in-trade is his intimate knowledge of the physical man and his skill to prevent or remove disabilities. ...The lawyer sometimes knows the laws of the land and sometimes does not, but he sells his legal language, often accompanied by common sense, to the multitude who have not yet learned that a contentious nature may squander quite as successfully as the spendthrift. The statesman sells his knowledge of men and affairs, and the spoken or written exposition of his principles of Government; and he receives in return the satisfaction of doing what he can for his nation, and occasionally wins as well a niche in its temple of fame. The man possessing many lands, he especially would be a merchant... and sell, but his is a merchandise which too often nowadays waits in vain for the buyer. The preacher, the lecturer, the actor, the estate agent, the farmer, the employé, all, all are merchants, all have something to dispose of at a profit to themselves, and the dignity of the business is decided by the manner in which they conduct the sale."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harry_Gordon_Selfridge
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Harry Gordon Selfridge
(January 11, 1858–May 8, 1947) was an American-British retail magnate who founded the London-based department store after retiring as 's partner, opening and selling Harry G. Selfridge and Co. in Chicago in only 2 months, and moving to England. His 20-year leadership of Selfridges led to his becoming one of the most respected and wealthy retail magnates in the United Kingdom. He was known as the 'Earl of Oxford Street'.
32 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Harry Gordon Selfridge →
Related Quotes
"People will sit up and take notice of you if you will sit up and take notice of what makes them sit up and take notice."
"Right or wrong, ."
"To the Merchants and Men of Commerce throughout the entire world, or to those among them who love their calling and c…"
"To write on Commerce or Trade and do the subject justice would require more volumes than any library could hold, and …"
"The desire to trade seems to be inherent in man, as natural to him as the instinct of self-preservation, and from ear…"
"Ever since that moment when two individuals first lived upon this earth, one has had what the other wanted, and has b…"
"[W]ithout Commerce there is no wealth."
"Commerce creates wealth, and it is the foundation of the great state. Armies are raised and paid for to win, or to pr…"
"If Commerce is necessary to wealth, no Commerce means no wealth, and our statesman soon finds himself out of employme…"
"The boss drives his men; the leader coaches them. The boss depends upon authority; the leader on goodwill. The boss i…"