Quote by Raymond Chandler

Throughout the history of commercial life nobody has ever quite liked the commission man. His function is too vague, his presence always seems one too many, his profit looks too easy, and even when you admit that he has a necessary function, you feel that this function is, as it were, a personification of something that in an ethical society would not need to exist. If people could deal with one another honestly, they would not need agents.

Throughout the history of commercial life nobody has ever qu

Summary

This quote criticizes the role of the commission man in commercial life. The commission man refers to a middleman or agent who facilitates business transactions but is often distrusted and disliked. The quote suggests that the commission man's function is unclear and unnecessary, implying that in an ideal society where people could trust and deal with each other honestly, intermediaries like commission men would not be needed. It highlights the perception that their profit comes too easily and questions their ethical standing in a society that values transparency and direct transactions.

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By Raymond Chandler

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