University of Virginia Library

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[51]

XCVII

Commerce is, in its very essence, satanic. Commerce
is return of the loan, a loan in which there is
the understanding: give me more than I give you.

The spirit of every business-man is completely
depraved.

Commerce is natural, therefore shameful.

The least vile of all merchants is he who says: `Let
us be virtuous, since, thus, we shall gain much more
money than the fools who are dishonest'.

For the merchant, even honesty is a financial
speculation.

Commerce is satanic, because it is the basest and
vilest form of egoism.