Activity Quote by John Ralston Saul
“In all earlier civilizations, it should be remembered, commerce was treated as a narrow activity and by no means the senior sector in society.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unconscious Civilization, John Ralston Saul, 1995
Historically commerce was seen as a limited, lower‑status activity, not a leading societal force.
In simple terms: Trade used to be a low‑status job.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the evolving value of commerce.
Themes
economics
history
social hierarchy
trade
status
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
economic
sociological
When to use this quote
- business education
- policy making
- entrepreneurship
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
capitalism
social stratification
economic development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this shift affect social mobility?
- Can we still view commerce as secondary today?
A Different Perspective
Modern economies show commerce now drives innovation and influence.
![“Rather than comparing [war] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities; and it is still closer to politics, which in turn may be considered as a kind of commerce on a larger scale.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c35/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_activity_rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-coul_21236.jpg)
