Throughout the history of commercial life nobody has ever…
“Throughout the history of commercial life nobody has ever quite liked the commission man. His function is too vague, his presence always seems one too many, his profit looks too easy, and even when you admit that he has a necessary function, you feel that this function is, as it were, a personification of something that in an ethical society would not need to exist. If people could deal with one another honestly, they would not need agents.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The commission-based sales role is viewed as ethically dubious and unnecessary, implying that honest direct interaction would eliminate the need for such intermediaries.
In simple terms: Commission agents are seen as ethically questionable.
Key Takeaway
Question the necessity of intermediaries in honest commerce.
Themes
ethics
business
honesty
intermediaries
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- sales training
- ethical business practices
- direct-to-consumer models
- policy debates
Key Concepts
capitalism
moral philosophy
economics
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives exist to commission structures?
- Do all sales agents embody the described negatives?
A Different Perspective
Honest interactions may still require some coordination; not all intermediaries are purely exploitative.