--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers." description: "\"We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png" --- # We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers. ![“We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png) > “We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques a society focused on commerce over broader civic values. **In simple terms:** Society is overly commercial. Key Takeaway Balance commerce with civic responsibility. Themes economics politics national identity materialism Mood critical thoughtful Type political social When to use this quote - policy debates - business ethics courses - public discourse - community initiatives Key Concepts capitalism civic duty social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What values should a nation prioritize? - How can commerce serve the public good? A Different Perspective Economic growth can conflict with social welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Nation Shopkeepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-shopkeepers-353252/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Shopkeepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopkeepers/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe Napoleon was wrong when he said we were a nation of shopkeepers... Today England looked like a nation of goalkeepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/maybe-napoleon-was-wrong-when-he-said-we-were-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“It was in the eighteenth century that England became what (Adam) Smith called "a nation of shopkeepers"… (p. 58)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-z-muller/it-was-in-the-eighteenth-century-that-england-became-what-adam-smith/) [Jerry Z. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-z-muller/) > [A nation of shopkeepers are very seldom so disinterested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/a-nation-of-shopkeepers-are-very-seldom-so-disinterested/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [England is a nation of shopkeepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/england-is-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If the British are a nation of shopkeepers, Americans are a nation of shoppers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-louise-huxtable/if-the-british-are-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-americans-are-a-nation-of/) [Ada Louise Huxtable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-louise-huxtable/) > [To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers, may at first sight appear a project fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/to-found-a-great-empire-for-the-sole-purpose-of-raising-up-a-people/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The English nation is never so great as in adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-english-nation-is-never-so-great-as-in-adversity/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Paris in the early morning has a cheerful, bustling aspect, a promise of delicious things to come, a positive smell of coffee and croissants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/paris-in-the-early-morning-has-a-cheerful-bustling-aspect-a-promise/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Daily life is better when it involves interactions with real people who have a personal investment in their labour, like shopkeepers, than it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/daily-life-is-better-when-it-involves-interactions-with-real-people/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [Christmas is forced upon a reluctant and disgusted nation by the shopkeepers and the press; on its own merits it would wither and shrivel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/christmas-is-forced-upon-a-reluctant-and-disgusted-nation-by-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [They called me Shopaholic just because I help Shopkeepers Buying their stuff !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ahmed/they-called-me-shopaholic-just-because-i-help-shopkeepers-buying/) [Ali Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ahmed/) > [There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dullness. When sometimes I am reminded that the mechanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-an-incessant-influx-of-novelty-into-the-world-and-yet-we-3/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Rather than earn money, it was Thoreau's idea to reduce his wants so that he would not need to buy anything. As he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/rather-than-earn-money-it-was-thoreau-s-idea-to-reduce-his-wants-so/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Shopkeepers are not bankers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurent-fabius/shopkeepers-are-not-bankers/) [Laurent Fabius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurent-fabius/) > [“Like all shopkeepers, they are deep-down optimists. They have to be, because every morning they unlock the doors to their stores, turn on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/like-all-shopkeepers-they-are-deep-down-optimists-they-have-to-be/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More England quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > ['Downton Abbey' is my worst nightmare. I just hate that whole 'Upstairs Downstairs' thing, I think it's really lazy and it doesn't represent England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/downton-abbey-is-my-worst-nightmare-i-just-hate-that-whole-upstairs/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These fledgling democracies in the Middle East, they're actually fighting for their freedom. And what are they rioting for in England? Leisurewear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/these-fledgling-democracies-in-the-middle-east-they-re-actually/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [“Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing. That they lost France and made his England bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-france-and-england-did-this-king-succeed-whose-state-so-many-had/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In my view, fitness training isn't that important in England, as they all train with such intensity anyway and have a competitive edge when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/in-my-view-fitness-training-isn-t-that-important-in-england-as-they/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) [Browse all 4,190 England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "England" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/benjamin-disraeli-390_england_we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers-60_604050.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are indeed a nation of shopkeepers.” — Benjamin Disraeli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are indeed a nation of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-are-indeed-a-nation-of-shopkeepers/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```