Humbert Wolfe: Buy & Sell, God Forgive

Posted by admin on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Humbert Wolfe Money Quotation saying from a poem ‘Uncelestial City’ that economic activity is often undertaken for no valid reason or to no benefit, but it keeps them employed. Humbert Wolfe said:
 

 

“In the City they sell and buy, and nobody ever asks them why. But since it contents them to buy and sell, God forgive them! They might as well” — Humbert Wolfe

 

 

In this quote, Humbert Wolfe is observing the hustle and bustle of commercial activity in a city, where people are constantly engaged in trading and transactions. However, Wolfe notes that amid this economic environment, nobody seems to question or contemplate the deeper reasons for why this system of buying and selling exists in the first place.

As long as the urban populace is content participating in the market economy to earn a living, Wolfe implies God is understanding of their actions and participation even without introspection. The quote suggests Wolfe sees the single-minded prioritization of commerce as somewhat superficial, but acknowledges it provides for people’s needs, so there is no real harm being done that requires divine intervention or correction either.