--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no respect to merchants and…" description: "\"“I have no respect to merchants and preachers; as far as I’m concerned, their only talent is coming up with the right word at the right time. What is a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/knut-hamsun-1203_merchants_i-have-no-respect-to-merchants-and-preac_2876065.jpg" --- # I have no respect to merchants and preachers; as far as… ![“I have no respect to merchants and preachers; as far as I’m concerned, their only talent is coming up with the right word at the right time. What is a professional preacher, really? He is a kind of middleman who for the wrong reasons tries to make people buy his goods. The more he sells, the more…” quote by Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/knut-hamsun-1203_merchants_i-have-no-respect-to-merchants-and-preac_2876065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/knut-hamsun-1203_merchants_i-have-no-respect-to-merchants-and-preac_2876065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/knut-hamsun-1203_merchants_i-have-no-respect-to-merchants-and-preac_2876065.jpg) > ““I have no respect to merchants and preachers; as far as I’m concerned, their only talent is coming up with the right word at the right time. What is a professional preacher, really? He is a kind of middleman who for the wrong reasons tries to make people buy his goods. The more he sells, the more his stock rises. The louder he hawks his wares, the larger his business grows.”” [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques merchants and preachers as manipulative middlemen exploiting language for profit. **In simple terms:** Preachers and merchants manipulate with words. Key Takeaway Beware of persuasive rhetoric. Themes manipulation ethics language power Mood critical skeptical Type analysis philosophical When to use this quote - political speeches - advertising - religious sermons Key Concepts rhetoric capitalism morality Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern genuine intent? - When is persuasive language justified? A Different Perspective Not all persuasive speech is malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Merchants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merchants/) [Merchants Preachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merchants-preachers-3959813/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Preacher Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher-really-2781741/) [Preachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preachers/) [Professional Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-preacher-3959814/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The devil is in constant conspiracy against a preacher who really prays, for it has been said that what a minister is in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-devil-is-in-constant-conspiracy-against-a-preacher-who-really/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > ['Preacher' really appeals to my iconoclastic nature because I'm a student of comparative world religions since my early 20s, so I love shows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-buckley/preacher-really-appeals-to-my-iconoclastic-nature-because-i-m-a/) [Betty Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-buckley/) > [My grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher, and there was nothing really modern that went on under their roof. We watched television, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/my-grandfather-was-a-pentecostal-preacher-and-there-was-nothing/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [My objection to the church isn't that the preachers are cruel, hypocritical, actually wicked, though some of them are that, too - think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/my-objection-to-the-church-isn-t-that-the-preachers-are-cruel/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [We need the wisdom of women, and the experience of married people and parents, and the depth of the contemplative if we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-radcliffe/we-need-the-wisdom-of-women-and-the-experience-of-married-people-and/) [Timothy Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-radcliffe/) > [I used to tell young preachers, in order to preach you've got to have the power of God on your life. Now I tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/i-used-to-tell-young-preachers-in-order-to-preach-you-ve-got-to-have/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [My dad was a Presbyterian minister. Yes, I am one of those dreaded P.K.s - Preachers Kids. Be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/my-dad-was-a-presbyterian-minister-yes-i-am-one-of-those-dreaded-p-k/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Remember, there are only a few model preachers. We have read of only one perfect Model, and He was crucified many centuries ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-henry-fowler/remember-there-are-only-a-few-model-preachers-we-have-read-of-only/) [Charles Henry Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-henry-fowler/) > [As preachers of the gospel of Jesus, do not expect worldly honors: these Jesus Christ neither took to himself, nor gave to his disciples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/as-preachers-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-do-not-expect-worldly-honors/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Let me first state forthright that contrary to what we've often read in books and heard from preachers, when you are a woman, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/let-me-first-state-forthright-that-contrary-to-what-we-ve-often-read/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Preachers are stewards whom the Lord has ‘set over his household servants to provide them with food at the proper time.’ After all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/preachers-are-stewards-whom-the-lord-has-set-over-his-household/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [English is the perfect language for preachers because it allows you to talk until you think of what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/english-is-the-perfect-language-for-preachers-because-it-allows-you/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [People who know how to act are never preachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/people-who-know-how-to-act-are-never-preachers/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Both my parents are Methodist preachers, I grew up in a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-bentley/both-my-parents-are-methodist-preachers-i-grew-up-in-a-church/) [Wes Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-bentley/) > [Preachers prepare with this fear: 'Am I going to be able to fill the time?' The audience never worries about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/preachers-prepare-with-this-fear-am-i-going-to-be-able-to-fill-the/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## More by Knut Hamsun > [“Well, God be with you,’ she said as she finally left him. ’I’m sure He is,’ he replied. She gave a start. ’Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/well-god-be-with-you-she-said-as-she-finally-left-him-i-m-sure-he-is/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“De sier hun er melle firti og femti, men hun er mindst seksti, ropte han, og er slikt menneskelig? Gå og vifte med næseborene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/de-sier-hun-er-melle-firti-og-femti-men-hun-er-mindst-seksti-ropte/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [No worse fate can befall a young man or woman than becoming prematurely entrenched in prudence and negation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/no-worse-fate-can-befall-a-young-man-or-woman-than-becoming/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Værsåartig, her var nu litt om bær, vore bærsorter...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/v-rs-artig-her-var-nu-litt-om-b-r-vore-b-rsorter/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“The ships whose masts I saw outlined against the sky looked, with their black hulls, like silent monsters that were raising their hackles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/the-ships-whose-masts-i-saw-outlined-against-the-sky-looked-with/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [And love became the world's origin and the world's ruler, yet littered its path is with flowers and blood, flowers and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/and-love-became-the-world-s-origin-and-the-world-s-ruler-yet-littered/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [But what really matters is not what you believe but the faith and conviction with which you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/but-what-really-matters-is-not-what-you-believe-but-the-faith-and/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [No, I don't admire the genius. But I admire and love the result of the genius's activity in the world, of which the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/no-i-don-t-admire-the-genius-but-i-admire-and-love-the-result-of-the/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Gud hvor De ser ut som en sån melankolsk fabelkat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/gud-hvor-de-ser-ut-som-en-s-n-melankolsk-fabelkat/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Daniel var en mand som forstod adskillig, han hadde været ute for et og andet i livet, hadde mistet både sin farsgård og sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/daniel-var-en-mand-som-forstod-adskillig-han-hadde-v-ret-ute-for-et/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“I imagined I had discovered a new word. I rise up in bed and say, "It is not in the language; I have discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/i-imagined-i-had-discovered-a-new-word-i-rise-up-in-bed-and-say-it-is/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Poteten det var en ny frukt, det var intet mystisk ved den, intet religiøst, kvinnfolk og barn kunne være med og få den satt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/poteten-det-var-en-ny-frukt-det-var-intet-mystisk-ved-den-intet/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Solen er forlængst dukket under synsranden, fjældene er blit hvitlig grønne, de ser ut i sin fjærnhet og i sin vælde som en verden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/solen-er-forl-ngst-dukket-under-synsranden-fj-ldene-er-blit-hvitlig/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“If I happened to find a diamond one day, I would call it Dagny, because the very sound of your name thrills me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/if-i-happened-to-find-a-diamond-one-day-i-would-call-it-dagny-because/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [There are some people who cannot help giving. Why? Because they experience a real psychological pleasure in doing so. They don't do it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/there-are-some-people-who-cannot-help-giving-why-because-they/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) [Explore all 197 Knut Hamsun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) ## More Merchants quotes > [Books were always important. I have to thank my father, he filled my life with books. He didn't write but he always read. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/books-were-always-important-i-have-to-thank-my-father-he-filled-my/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [It isn't what a man's got in the bank, but what he's got in his head, that makes him a great merchant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horace-lorimer/it-isn-t-what-a-man-s-got-in-the-bank-but-what-he-s-got-in-his-head/) [George Horace Lorimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horace-lorimer/) > [There is no art or science that is too difficult for industry to attain to; it is the gift of tongues, and makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/there-is-no-art-or-science-that-is-too-difficult-for-industry-to/) [Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/) > [ I cursed \[Larry Merchant\] out once, and I told him that he was a phony. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-cursed-larry-merchant-out-once-and-i-told-him-that-he-was-a-phony/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [A prudent pharmacist often vends something for your complaint. But wine merchant you do this invariably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-campion/a-prudent-pharmacist-often-vends-something-for-your-complaint-but/) [Thomas Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-campion/) > [The Europeans and Americans residing in the town of Zanzibar are either Government officials, independent merchants, or agents for a few great mercantile houses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-morton-stanley/the-europeans-and-americans-residing-in-the-town-of-zanzibar-are/) [Henry Morton Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-morton-stanley/) > [Our large trading cities bear to me very nearly the aspect of monastic establishments in which the roar of the mill-wheel and the crane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-large-trading-cities-bear-to-me-very-nearly-the-aspect-of/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Because I had worked the river boats some summers, pushing as far as New Orleans, I joined the Merchant Marine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-walker/because-i-had-worked-the-river-boats-some-summers-pushing-as-far-as/) [Clint Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-walker/) > [Commercial roadways in communities that lack zoning laws, for example, are often an aesthetic nightmare not because of insufficient competition, and not because merchants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frank/commercial-roadways-in-communities-that-lack-zoning-laws-for-example/) [Bob Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-frank/) > [“Merchants and craftsmen make prosperity; chiefs, priests and thieves fritter it away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/merchants-and-craftsmen-make-prosperity-chiefs-priests-and-thieves/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-the-infancy-of-civilization-when-our-island-was-as-savage-as-new/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The ruin of the human heart is self-interest, which the American merchant calls self-service. We have become a self-service populace, and all our specious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ruin-of-the-human-heart-is-self-interest-which-the-american/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [No matter who reigns, the merchant reigns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/no-matter-who-reigns-the-merchant-reigns/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A good part of why I never went back to England was part of that, I didn't want to be in those sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/a-good-part-of-why-i-never-went-back-to-england-was-part-of-that-i/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [All that glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-that-glitters-is-not-gold/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 238 Merchants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merchants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have no respect to merchants and preachers; as far as I’m concerned, their only talent is coming up with the right word at the right time. 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