Brokers Quote by Studs Terkel
“One day I visited a guy who had made a fortune as a broker. He was sitting in his office with his computer. I hire people from here and make deals from this room, he told me. Then he took me to the trading room. Nobody was talking to anybody else, the place was silent as a tomb, they were all sitting there watching their terminals - a great word, terminal. I tell you, it scares the crap out of me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Oral History of Wall Street, 1995
He describes a silent, intense trading floor where workers stare at screens, highlighting the isolating nature of modern finance.
In simple terms: Trading floors are quiet, focused, and solitary.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the human cost of high‑pressure jobs.
Themes
isolation
technology
finance
stress
culture
workplace
Mood
tense
contemplative
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- stock market openings
- high‑frequency trading
- office design
Key Concepts
trading dynamics
digital surveillance
psychology of markets
human factors
Questions to Reflect On
- How does silence affect decision‑making?
- What supports can reduce trader isolation?
A Different Perspective
The quiet can mask intense mental strain.
