Quotation of the Day…

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… is from page 631 of Will Durant’s 1957 book, The Reformation (footnote deleted):

Antwerp was becoming – would be by 1550 – the richest, busiest city in Europe. To that hectic port on the broad and navigable Scheldt international trade and finance were drawn by low import and export dues, by the political connection with Spain, and by a bourse dedicated, its inscription said, ad usum mercatorum cuiusque gentis ac linguae – “to the use of merchants of every land and tongue.”

DBx: Commerce enlightens and civilizes.