From François-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), pen name Voltaire, French writer, deist and philosopher, Letters On England, Letter 6, “On the Presbyterians”
Go into the London Stock Exchange – a more respectable place than many a court – and you will see representatives from all nations gathered together for the utility of men. Here Jew, Mohammedan and Christian deal with each other as though they were all of the same faith, and only apply the word infidel to people who go bankrupt. Here the Presbyterian trusts the Anabaptist and the Anglican accepts a promise from the Quaker. On leaving these peaceful and free assemblies some go to the Synagogue and others for a drink, this one goes to be baptized in a great bath in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, that one has his son’s foreskin cut and has some Hebrew words he doesn’t understand mumbled over the child, others go to heir church and await the inspiration of God with their hats on, and everybody is happy.
Robert, what are your thoughts on this quote?
Lisa the Infidel,
I’ll answer your question with a story. When I lived in Los Angeles, the family and I often went to a taco stand called Tito’s Tacos in Culver City, on the west side (it’s still there). It was always packed, and in the parking lot you would see everything from beater cars on their last legs (or tires, as it were) to Mercedes, BMWs and the occasional Rolls Royce. Everyone went to Tito’s–whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, gays, straights, young, old, rich, not so rich–everyone, waiting patiently in line and talking with each other. It was a multicultural melting pot in a city that has it share of animosities. Why? Great tacos.
My point is that commerce and self-interest, two of my favorite things, overcome divisions, the same point Voltaire was making. People of all stripes have been peacefully trading with each other and will do so, because it’s in their interests to do so. So I like the quote because it captures what I’ve seen and experienced during my career in business and finance. Markets have brought about more cultural exchange, transactions, tolerance, and understanding than any government ever has or will.