Business Quote by Jerry Z. Muller
““Yet despite...accommodations with commerce, Möser regarded the market as primarily a threat--to the artisanal citizens of the town, to the traditional wants of the peasantry, and to the political structure to society, since it created a growing class of people outside the traditional paternalistic relations of the countryside. Möser's conception of contemporary political and economic trends in Osnabrück was essentialy tragic and tinged with that idealization of the past that would later be called romantic. Möser's heroes were the artisan-citizen and the independent peasant, his villains the shopkeeper and the peddler.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of the Modern Economy, Jerry Z. Muller, 2003
Möser saw market forces as a danger to traditional artisans, peasants, and social order, idealizing a nostalgic past while condemning merchants and traders.
In simple terms: Möser thought markets threatened old ways and praised artisans and peasants.
Key Takeaway
Beware unchecked market disruption of community values.
Themes
economics
nostalgia
social change
class conflict
romanticism
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- rural development
- heritage preservation
- policy making
- community activism
Key Concepts
political economy
idealization
market critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern policies balance market growth with community preservation?
- Can nostalgia hinder progress?
A Different Perspective
Möser’s view may overlook benefits of trade and innovation for broader society.
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