---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a trader-dominated society, the scribe…"
description: "\"In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept out of the management of affairs, but it given a more or less free hand in the cultural field..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg"
---

#  In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept…

![“In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept out of the management of affairs, but it given a more or less free hand in the cultural field. By frustrating the scribe's craving for commanding action, the trader draws upon himself the scribe's wrath and scorn.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg)

> “In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept out of the management of affairs, but it given a more or less free hand in the cultural field. By frustrating the scribe's craving for commanding action, the trader draws upon himself the scribe's wrath and scorn.”

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Traders dominate economics, keeping scribes out of decision‑making, yet scribes control culture, causing tension.

**In simple terms:** Traders control economy, scribes control culture, leading to conflict.

Key Takeaway

Balance power between economics and culture.

Themes

economics culture power

Mood

analytical critical

Type

sociological philosophical

When to use this quote

- corporate strategy
- media production
- policy making

Key Concepts

elite theory cultural hegemony

Questions to Reflect On

- How can economic and cultural leaders collaborate?
- What are modern equivalents of scribes?

A Different Perspective

Oversimplifies complex social dynamics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Craving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craving/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Scorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scorn/) [Scribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribe/) [Scribe Craving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribe-craving-5510668/) [Scribe Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribe-usually-5510665/) [Scribe Wrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribe-wrath-5510667/) [Scribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribes/) [Society Scribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-scribe-5510666/) [Traders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traders/) [Wrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [Memory is the scribe of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/memory-is-the-scribe-of-the-soul/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [“May the scribes record it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/may-the-scribes-record-it/)

[Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/)

> [It was apparent that no one could do for the scribe what the scribe had done for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-clason/it-was-apparent-that-no-one-could-do-for-the-scribe-what-the-scribe/)

[George S. Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-clason/)

> [“The author of what I describe is not myself, it is the Other. First of all it is you, it is the woman, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-ne-cixous/the-author-of-what-i-describe-is-not-myself-it-is-the-other-first-of/)

[Hélène Cixous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-ne-cixous/)

> [“Thousands of you, Scribe. One of her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/thousands-of-you-scribe-one-of-her/)

[Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/)

> [“Poetic license is not a license to scribe recklessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-kennedy/poetic-license-is-not-a-license-to-scribe-recklessly/)

[C. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-kennedy/)

> [“Ho there, scribe. I see that you write well enough. Can you also read?' 'Obviously you cannot, boy,' he replied. 'For if you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/ho-there-scribe-i-see-that-you-write-well-enough-can-you-also-read/)

[Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/)

> [“THE SCRIBE Under the wings Of the feathered Goddess And in the middle Of the three dancing women, The scribe comes alive To reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-scribe-under-the-wings-of-the-feathered-goddess-and-in-the-middle/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [I studied journalism, though I never really became a scribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithya-menen/i-studied-journalism-though-i-never-really-became-a-scribe/)

[Nithya Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithya-menen/)

> [“... Such a scribe you pay and praise for putting life in stones, Fire into fog, making the past your world. There's plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning-robert-browning/such-a-scribe-you-pay-and-praise-for-putting-life-in-stones-fire-into/)

[Elizabeth Barrett Browning Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning-robert-browning/)

> [“The scribe was a strict teacher and he did not accept anything less than perfect... Like a mother sensing the baby quickening within her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-scribe-was-a-strict-teacher-and-he-did-not-accept-anything-less/)

[Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/)

> [“In addition, there was a note from Gundar – the skirl had paid a professional scribe to write it for him. The new ship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/in-addition-there-was-a-note-from-gundar-the-skirl-had-paid-a/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“Be a scribe! Your body will be sleek—your hand will be soft . . . you are one who sits grandly in your house;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ptahotep-4500-bc/be-a-scribe-your-body-will-be-sleek-your-hand-will-be-soft-you-are/)

[Ptahotep 4500 BC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ptahotep-4500-bc/)

> [“Dearest Virgin Scribe, without his father, he was so alone, even as he was surrounded by people who served him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/dearest-virgin-scribe-without-his-father-he-was-so-alone-even-as-he/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [“Assign someone who isn’t actively participating in the discussion to be the scribe, responsible for taking accurate notes. Session notes should contain an attendee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiegers/assign-someone-who-isn-t-actively-participating-in-the-discussion-to/)

[Karl Wiegers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiegers/)

## More by Eric Hoffer

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

[Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept out of the management of affairs, but it given a more or less free hand in the cultural field. By frustrating the scribe's craving for commanding action, the trader draws upon himself the scribe's wrath and scorn.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Hoffer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe-is-usually-kept-out-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe-is-usually-kept-out-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/eric-hoffer-343_action_in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe_2314729.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In a trader-dominated society, the scribe is usually kept out of the management of affairs, but it given a…” — Eric Hoffer",
                "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": "Eric Hoffer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In a trader-dominated society, the scribe...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe-is-usually-kept-out-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-a-trader-dominated-society-the-scribe-is-usually-kept-out-of-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
