Chamber of commerce Quote by Mark Kurlansky
““At the time when Pope Pius VII had to leave Rome, which had been conquered by revolutionary French, the committee of the Chamber of Commerce in London was considering the herring fishery. One member of the committee observed that, since the Pope had been forced to leave Rome, Italy was probably going to become a Protestant country. “Heaven help us,” cried another member. “What,” responded the first, “would you be upset to see the number of good Protestants increase?” “No,” the other answered, “it isn’t that, but suppose there are no more Catholics, what shall we do with our herring?”—Alexandre Dumas, Le grand dictionnaire de cuisine, 1873””
About This Quote
Source Book: Le grand dictionnaire de cuisine by Alexandre Dumas, 1873
A satirical anecdote about religious and economic anxieties in 19th‑century Europe, using a herring fishery as a metaphor for cultural loss.
In simple terms: People fear loss of tradition and market when demographics shift.
Key Takeaway
Recognize humor in fear‑driven rhetoric.
Themes
religion
economics
culture
history
satire
Mood
wry
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- food industry
- immigration policy
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
cultural identity
market dependency
religious tension
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor reveal societal insecurities?
- What modern parallels exist?
A Different Perspective
The joke may downplay real suffering of displaced groups.
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