Quote by Thomas Carlyle
It is a strange trade that of advocacy. Your intellect, your highest heavenly gift is hung up in the shop window like a loaded pistol for sale.
Summary
This quote alludes to the nature of advocacy, highlighting the paradoxical aspect of the profession. Advocacy requires the use of one's intellect, often considered a remarkable gift, to persuade and argue within a public sphere. However, this quote observes that the advocacy process treats intellect, akin to a loaded weapon, as a mere commodity on display for others to evaluate and potentially purchase. It implies the bittersweet reality where advocates must expose their intellectual abilities for public scrutiny and use them as means to their end, underscoring the unique and complex dynamics involved in the trade of advocacy.