The Complete English Tradesman by Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe’s comprehensive guide, The Complete English Tradesman, offers detailed advice for business owners in the 18th century. The chapters and discussions focus heavily on the proper conduct and management necessary for a tradesman to succeed, addressing topics like avoiding bankruptcy, the dangers of over-trading, and the importance of diligence and honesty in business. Defoe also explores the necessity of knowing the “trading style” and avoiding excessive expense and early marriage, warning that the latter two are frequent causes of financial ruin. The work emphasizes the dignity and magnitude of English inland trade compared to other nations and stresses that a tradesman’s credit and punctual payments are his most vital assets.
The Complete English Tradesman, written by Daniel Defoe (original London edition 1726), is presented as a collection of essential instructions and cautions for young tradesmen, intended to prevent the frequent miscarriages seen in contemporary commerce. Defoe notes that many tradesmen fail either from ignorance or self-confidence, making prudence and preparation crucial. He observes that tradesmen face a “fate upon a tradesman” where custom dictates expensive living, risking ruin either by spending too much or by losing credit for not spending enough. The book focuses on the English tradesman, defined primarily as warehouse-keepers and shopkeepers involved in the home or inland trade, excluding manufacturers or foreign merchants. The goal is to provide a “true plan” for prosperity, guiding the reader to avoid the “rocks which the gay race of tradesmen so frequently suffer shipwreck upon”.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Young apprentices and new business owners.
- Tradesmen struggling with debt or poor credit management.
- Individuals seeking guidance on business ethics and honesty.
- Creditors or debtors navigating insolvency and composition.
- Historians studying 18th-century English commerce and manners.
Top 3 Key Insights
- Diligence and Application are the lifeblood of trade; failure to attend personally to the shop is equivalent to wasting capital and time.
- Over-trading (excessive taking or giving of credit) is highly dangerous; stock and credit must be held in careful, conservative balance.
- If failure is unavoidable, break in time (stop business early) to maximize creditors’ recovery and protect one’s reputation for future endeavors.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Avoid borrowing money upon interest, as the predictable payments “eat deep” into profits, serving as a dangerous financial snare.
- Exact bookkeeping is mandatory, functioning as the “repeating clock” to track financial status and determine when to proceed or stop.
- Punctual payment of bills and notes is paramount, establishing an “unspotted” credit that functions as a real financial stock.
- Husbands should fully inform their wives of financial circumstances so they are equipped to manage affairs upon the tradesman’s demise.
The Book in 1 Sentence
Daniel Defoe advises young tradesmen on diligence, prudent credit management, and integrity to avoid bankruptcy in a competitive world.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
Daniel Defoe provides essential cautions for young tradesmen navigating 18th-century commerce. He stresses that diligence and constant application are necessary, calling trade “a business for life”. Key warnings involve avoiding over-trading—taking or giving too much credit—which leads to inevitable failure. Tradesmen must also shun excessive expense, even from seemingly innocent pleasures, as these steal time and resources. If ruin is imminent, the tradesman must break in time to retain honor and offer creditors a higher repayment. Success is built on maintaining scrupulous books and punctual payment, as credit is the tradesman’s lifeblood.
Chapter-wise Book Summary
CHAPTER I: THE TRADESMAN IN HIS PREPARATIONS WHILE AN APPRENTICE
“For want of this knowledge of the goods, he is at a loss in the buying part, and is liable to be cheated and imposed upon in the most notorious manner by the sharp-sighted world…“
This chapter details the crucial steps an apprentice must take to transition into a complete tradesman, emphasizing that he must learn more than just manual work. He must gain “good judgment in the goods” he handles; otherwise, he will be easily cheated in buying, risking ruin or reputation loss. The apprentice must acquaint himself with both the customers his master sells to and the dealers he buys from, as this network is a principal benefit of the apprenticeship. Furthermore, he must learn his master’s bookkeeping method perfectly, viewing the books as his “repeating clock” that tells him his financial standing. Failing to learn these skills, particularly buying and bookkeeping, means he has “not learned his trade, nor is he fit to set up”.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Gain judgment in goods and buying.
- Form acquaintance with customers.
- Master exact bookkeeping.
CHAPTER II: THE TRADESMAN’S WRITING LETTERS
“A tradesman’s letters should be plain, concise, and to the purpose; no quaint expressions, no book-phrases, no flourishes…“
Defoe instructs the tradesman on the appropriate “trading style” for written correspondence. Letters must be easy, free, concise, and direct to the purpose, avoiding “rumbling and bombast style” or excessive flourishes, which are fit for a poet, not a shopkeeper. Orders for goods must be explicit and particular to prevent confusion and mistakes concerning quality, pattern, or delivery time. Clear writing ensures the correspondence runs smoothly, guaranteeing that orders are followed punctually and payments are made cheerfully, creating a harmonious and mutually reliable business relationship.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Write plainly and concisely.
- Orders must be explicit.
- Avoid affected abbreviations or elaborate phrasing.
CHAPTER III: THE TRADING STYLE
“The nicety of writing in business consists chiefly in giving every species of goods their trading names…“
This chapter continues the discussion of communication, focusing on the specialized language of commerce. The tradesman must understand and use the “peculiarities in the trading language,” or “slang in trade,” often called the terms of art (e.g., calling molasses ‘spanish’ among brewers, or unburnt bricks ‘sammel’). A mastery of this unique dialect is necessary to prevent being cheated, as opponents quickly detect ignorance. The tradesman should also tailor his language to the audience; using specialized terms with someone unacquainted with the business is akin to a parson quoting Greek to ploughmen.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Master trade jargon (slang).
- Language mastery prevents imposition.
- Suit speech to the listener’s knowledge.
CHAPTER IV: OF THE TRADESMAN ACQUAINTING HIMSELF WITH ALL BUSINESS IN GENERAL
“Nothing secures the tradesman against those men so well as his being thoroughly knowing in business…“
A tradesman should strive for a “general understanding in trade,” knowing where manufactures are made, which markets are proper, and how business is managed. This broad knowledge equips him to switch trades or enter advantageous partnerships. Critically, this general knowledge is the best defense against deceptive “projectors,” who are likened to “birds of prey” or “incendiaries” constantly plotting the tradesman’s ruin. The tradesman should primarily converse with other tradesmen to learn the “trading sciences” and gain knowledge from their successes and failures; dwelling on state news and politics is a distraction.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Acquire general business knowledge.
- Guard against deceitful projectors.
- Prioritize conversation with fellow tradesmen.
CHAPTER V: DILIGENCE AND APPLICATION IN BUSINESS
“It is an old Anglicism, ‘Such a man drives a trade;’ the allusion is to a carter, that with his voice, his hands, his whip, and his constant attendance, keeps the team always going…“
Diligence is presented as the greatest prospect for thriving; without constant application, even the best shop location and stock will fail. The tradesman must personally attend the shop, as customers prefer seeing the master’s face. Trade is a daily employment that must be “worked at, not played with”; he that “trades in jest, will certainly break in earnest”. The diligent tradesman learns how to carry on his business effectively. Time must be judiciously divided between necessities, religious duties, and business, ensuring that one duty does not “jostle out another”.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Diligent hand makes rich.
- Personal attendance is required.
- Balance time strictly between life duties and trade.
CHAPTER VI: OVER-TRADING
“I take over-trading to be to a shopkeeper as ambition is to a prince.“
Over-trading ruins more tradesmen than lack of trade. This “dangerous state” comes from two primary sources: taking too much credit or giving too much credit. Taking too much credit leads to delayed payments, which impairs both credit and profit. Giving too much credit is equally perilous, as inability to collect debts prevents the tradesman from paying his own. The safest rule for a young tradesman is never to trust out so much as he is trusted with by at least one-third. A quick sale of a small stock is preferable to a crowded shop of unsold or old goods.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Over-trading ruins many traders.
- Avoid excessive taking/giving of credit.
- Limit credit given to one-third less than credit taken.
CHAPTER VII: OF THE TRADESMAN IN DISTRESS, AND BECOMING BANKRUPT
“Breaking is the death of a tradesman; he is mortally stabbed, or, as we may say, shot through the head, in his trading capacity…“
Bankruptcy is described as the death of a tradesman, extinguishing his credit and attendance. If a tradesman is distressed and finds his stock irrecoverably diminished, he must “break in time”. By stopping early, before running the bottom completely out, the tradesman gains the character of an honest, albeit unfortunate, man. This action (e.g., being able to offer 15 shillings in the pound) earns compassion and support from creditors, enabling him to restart trade. Struggling to the last gasp only leads to reproach, guilt, and a smaller return for creditors.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Bankruptcy is financial death.
- Break early when ruin is certain.
- Stopping in time preserves honesty and future chances.
CHAPTER VIII: THE ORDINARY OCCASIONS OF THE RUIN OF TRADESMEN
“A tradesman behind his counter must have no flesh and blood about him, no passions, no resentment. He must never be angry; no, not so much as seem to be so.“
To avoid ruin, a tradesman must first choose a prudent location suitable for his specific trade. Next, he needs a well-sorted stock appropriate for the town and customers, as a lack of choice sends customers elsewhere. Most importantly, the tradesman must possess imperturbable patience and civility. He must bear all customer impertinence, tantrums, and waste of time, acting as a “perfect complete hypocrite” in the shop. Losing temper risks widespread scandal, as customers will shun a rude shop, even based on second or third-hand rumors.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Choose a proper trade location.
- Maintain a well-sorted stock.
- Exhibit absolute patience and civility.
CHAPTER IX: OF OTHER REASONS FOR THE TRADESMAN’S DISASTERS: AND, FIRST, OF INNOCENT DIVERSIONS
“Pleasures rob the tradesman, and how, then, can he call them innocent diversions? They are downright thieves…“
Even lawful and innocent pleasures are fatal if they take the tradesman’s time or mind away from his business. Such excursions are “downright thieves” because they rob the shop of the master’s attendance and steal time that should be devoted to essential business duties, such as writing letters or balancing books. The prudent tradesman should only allow himself as much pleasure or diversion as does “not interfere with, or do the least damage to his business, by taking him away from it”. Neglecting trade for seemingly harmless activities ruins a tradesman just as surely as scandalous vice.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Negligence ruins trade.
- Pleasures are thieves of time.
- Only engage in diversions that don’t harm business.
CHAPTER X: OF EXTRAVAGANT AND EXPENSIVE LIVING; ANOTHER STEP TO A TRADESMAN’S DISASTER
“Expensive living is a kind of slow fever; it is not so open, so threatening and dangerous, as the ordinary distemper which goes by that name, but it preys upon the spirits…“
Immoderate expense, though often a “sober extravagance” unlike outright debauchery, is a “slow fever” that consumes the tradesman’s vital stock. The current “expensive humour of the times” pressures tradesmen into a lifestyle where they “spend more than we get”. Beginning business with lavish spending, such as in fine dress or expensive entertainment (“keeping high company”), drains ready money—the lifeblood of trade—for mere appearance, leading to ruin. Such high company also leads to missing crucial business opportunities, where an hour’s absence might cost a hundred pounds in lost bargains.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Expensive living acts as a slow fever.
- High expenses drain ready money/stock.
- Wasting time with high company loses trade.
CHAPTER XI: OF THE TRADESMAN’S MARRYING TOO SOON
“there is many a young tradesman ruined by marrying a good wife—in which, pray take notice that I observe my own just distinction: I do not say they are ruined or undone by a good wife, or by their wives being good, but by their marrying—their unseasonable, early, and hasty marrying…“
Early marriage imposes significant, necessary expenses (house furnishing, servants, family maintenance) that deplete the limited capital (stock) needed to establish the trade. Even marrying an economical and “good wife” can lead to ruin if the timing is premature, as the man has not yet secured his position. The husband has an indispensable obligation to acquaint his wife with the truth of his circumstances to prevent her from innocently running them into disaster through unknowingly high expenses.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Early marriage drains initial stock.
- Husband must be transparent about finances.
- Necessary family expenses cause strain.
CHAPTER XII: OF THE TRADESMAN’S LEAVING HIS BUSINESS TO SERVANTS
“The greater reputation the servant gets in his business, the more care the master has upon him, lest he gets within him, and worms him out of his business.“
A diligent, faithful servant is a blessing, but if the master relies on him too heavily and is absent, this blessing turns into a “blast”. If the apprentice gains the reputation, he will “carry the trade with him” when he sets up nearby. The master must maintain superiority by being as diligent as the servant, always appearing visibly at the head of the business. If the servant is idle, negligent, or thievish, the master faces severe loss and disrepute, making constant, personal attendance even more necessary.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Master must attend business constantly.
- Diligent servants may steal the trade.
- Idle servants cause neglect and ruin.
CHAPTER XIII: OF TRADESMEN MAKING COMPOSITION WITH DEBTORS, OR WITH CREDITORS
“If, then, the contingent nature of trade renders every man liable to disaster that is engaged in it, it seems strange that tradesmen should be outrageous and unmerciful to one another when they fall…“
Tradesmen, knowing the precarious nature of commerce, should be compassionate toward unfortunate debtors. When dealing with an honest debtor who offers a composition (e.g., paying 15 shillings in the pound), creditors should generally accept the first reasonable proposal, as this is usually the best the debtor can make. Pushing for a commission of bankruptcy often results in less money recovered after time and legal expenses. A commission is only necessary where the debtor is clearly fraudulent or trying to conceal assets.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Be compassionate to debtors.
- Accept the first honest offer.
- Commissions are for managing knaves.
CHAPTER XIV: OF THE UNFORTUNATE TRADESMAN COMPOUNDING WITH HIS CREDITORS
“When he perceives his case as above, and knows that if his new adventures or projects should fail, he cannot by any means stand or support himself, I not only give it as my advice to all tradesmen, as their interest, but insist upon it, as they are honest men, they should break, that is, stop in time…“
If a tradesman finds himself insolvent, he must stop business immediately as an “honest man”. He should present his creditors with a true, faithful account of his losses and remaining assets. He must then offer a complete surrender of his effects (goods and debts). Offering a composition (a percentage of the debt) must be done with the alternative of full surrender; otherwise, offering less than the utmost he is able to pay is considered a “cheat, a palpable fraud”. Surrendering everything brings peace of mind and preserves the debtor’s integrity.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Stop business when insolvent.
- Provide creditors a true, full account.
- Offer composition or full surrender.
CHAPTER XV: OF TRADESMEN RUINING ONE ANOTHER BY RUMOUR AND CLAMOUR, BY SCANDAL AND REPROACH
“Credit is so much a tradesman’s blessing that it is the choicest ware he deals in, and he cannot be too chary of it when he has it, or buy it too dear when he wants it…“
Credit is the “life and soul” of trade. Slander and ill rumors are the worst kind of theft, capable of blasting a flourishing tradesman instantly, even if the rumors are false. A tradesman’s reputation is of the “nicest nature imaginable”. When asked about a neighbor’s credit, refusing to give a character is tantamount to giving a bad one and will be interpreted as a “ground of suspicion”. Tradesmen should live by the “golden rule” and be extremely cautious not to hurt one another, as the victim may never recover the loss of credit.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Credit is the “choicest jewel”.
- Rumor and slander ruin credit instantly.
- Refusing a character is giving a bad one.
CHAPTER XVI: OF THE TRADESMAN’S ENTERING INTO PARTNERSHIP IN TRADE, AND THE MANY DANGERS ATTENDING IT
“He will never fail to be esteemed the principal person concerned in the shop, and in the trade, who is principally and most constantly found there, acting at the head of every business…“
Partnerships are often dangerous and expose the tradesman to many snares. If a partner is too diligent, he may supplant the original owner and carry away the trade when the partnership dissolves. If a partner is idle or extravagant, he can ruin the joint stock through undisclosed debts or indiscreet actions, dragging the honest partner down. If forced to partner, the tradesman should choose a partner with a minority interest (less than half) and who is his “junior in business” to ensure he retains the governing influence and control necessary to check rash decisions.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Partnerships introduce many hazards.
- Retain control via majority share.
- Partner’s separate business jeopardizes joint trade.
CHAPTER XVII: OF HONESTY IN DEALING, AND LYING
“To break a solemn promise is a kind of prevarication; that is certain, there is no coming off of it…“
Defoe acknowledges certain “poetical licences” allowed in trade, such as asking more than one intends to take, driven by the custom of haggling buyers. However, the greatest moral difficulty lies in frequently broken promises of payment, which are common practice. Although disappointment by others can cause unavoidable breaches, this practice damages credit. A promise made with no intent to perform is dishonest. The tradesman should avoid absolute promises if possible, as the pressure from creditors often “extorts a promise” he cannot fulfill, leading to continuous lying.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Asking high prices is a customary license.
- Promises of payment are often broken due to trade contingencies.
- Avoid making absolute, unattainable promises.
CHAPTER XVIII: OF THE CUSTOMARY FRAUDS OF TRADE, WHICH HONEST MEN ALLOW THEMSELVES TO PRACTISE, AND PRETEND TO JUSTIFY
“[To pass counterfeit money] is all one with picking the shopkeeper’s pocket, or robbing his house!“
This chapter addresses common dishonest practices, starting with passing known counterfeit money, which Defoe explicitly condemns as “dishonest and knavish” and equivalent to robbery. He argues that a tradesman should immediately destroy any bad money he receives, rather than attempting to pass it on. Other customary frauds include the manipulation of goods to look better than they are (e.g., through artificial lighting or pressing). Defoe criticizes the use of “shop rhetoric,” which is often a “mass of rattling flattery… filled with hypocrisy, compliment, self-praises, falsehood,” noting that few honest tradesmen can avoid it.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Passing counterfeit money is knavery.
- False presentation of goods is a cheat.
- “Shop rhetoric” often involves dishonest flattery.
CHAPTER XIX: OF FINE SHOPS, AND FINE SHOWS
“I cannot but think a well-furnished shop with a moderate outside is much better to a tradesman, than a fine shop and few goods…“
The fashion for tradesmen to spend significant capital on “painting and adorning” fine shops is heavily discouraged. Such displays drain the tradesman’s stock early on, sacrificing real capital for imaginary reputation. A fine show is merely a “net spread to catch fools”. True prosperity is found not in decorative ornaments, but in a shop well filled with goods, offering good choice, good value, and excellent attendance, which builds a lasting reputation.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Fine shops drain capital.
- Focus on well-stocked shelves, not paint/gilding.
- Good goods and attendance attract best customers.
CHAPTER XX: OF THE TRADESMAN’S KEEPING HIS BOOKS, AND CASTING UP HIS SHOP
“A tradesman’s books are his repeating clock, which upon all occasions are to tell him how he goes on, and how things stand with him in the world…“
Exact keeping of books is an essential part of prosperity; the books are the “register of his estate”. Tradesmen should balance their accounts and “cast up shop” at least once a year. Failure to keep a ledger (posting to a particular account) leads to confusion and enables knavish customers to cheat the tradesman. When balancing cash, the tradesman must be equally unsatisfied if he finds more money than expected as if he finds less, as a surplus often indicates a hidden error that could lead to a future loss. Books must be kept current so that if the tradesman dies suddenly, his family can settle his affairs.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Keep accounts duly posted.
- Balance cash rigorously; never ignore errors.
- Leave books settled in case of death.
CHAPTER XXI: OF THE TRADESMAN LETTING HIS WIFE BE ACQUAINTED WITH HIS BUSINESS
“They knew nothing how he got his estate when he was alive, and they know nothing where to find it when he is dead.“
Many tradesmen’s wives scorn acquaintance with the business out of pride, leading to potential “disconsolate and perplexed” conditions if widowed. If the widow is ignorant, she may be forced to marry her apprentice to manage the debts—”ruining herself to prevent her being ruined”. The husband should proactively make his wife knowledgeable of the trade, customers, and books for her own sake and for the sake of their children, ensuring the family bread is not taken away by strangers.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Wife’s ignorance causes post-death disaster.
- Acquaintance prepares her to manage affairs.
- Prevents losing the trade to strangers.
CHAPTER XXII: OF THE DIGNITY OF TRADE IN ENGLAND MORE THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES
“…King Charles II… used to say, ‘That the tradesmen were the only gentry in England.’“
Trade in England is highly dignified, unlike in other countries. The vast wealth and present greatness of the British nation are entirely due to trade, not to military conquest or war. The “wealth of the nation” lies chiefly among the trading people, who fund taxes and carry on banks. Many ancient gentry families are worn out, and their estates are now possessed by the sons of tradesmen. The prosperity of trade creates new noble families and enhances the national power.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Trade is highly dignified in England.
- Tradesmen hold the bulk of the nation’s wealth.
- National greatness stems solely from commerce.
CHAPTER XXIII: OF THE INLAND TRADE OF ENGLAND, ITS MAGNITUDE, AND THE GREAT ADVANTAGE IT IS TO THE NATION IN GENERAL
“This inland trade is in itself at this time the wonder of all the world of trade…“
The inland trade is a “prodigy” of circulation, far exceeding any other in the world, responsible for distributing goods—both domestic manufactures and massive foreign imports (like sugar and tobacco). It involves carrying goods from their point of manufacture across the entire island, employing countless people and horses. The vast magnitude of this trade is also due to goods passing through many hands before reaching the final consumer, making the total returned trade far greater than the value of the goods themselves. Furthermore, inland trade relies heavily on the giving of credit, which acts as a real stock, allowing business to be carried on far beyond the actual specie available.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Inland trade is immense circulation.
- Goods pass through many hands, magnifying volume.
- Trade volume relies heavily on credit.
CHAPTER XXIV: OF CREDIT IN TRADE, AND HOW A TRADESMAN OUGHT TO VALUE AND IMPROVE IT: HOW EASILY LOST, AND HOW HARD IT IS TO BE RECOVERED
“Credit is the choicest jewel the tradesman is trusted with; it is better than money many ways…“
Credit is the tradesman’s “mistress” and his “choicest jewel,” superior to actual money because it enables him to trade for much more than his real stock. Credit is the “prodigious thing” that supports two-thirds of English trade. It is “cozy” and easily affronted; once lost, it “hardly ever returns”. Two fundamentals build credit: Industry and Honesty. Nothing but “just, and fair, and honourable dealings” will preserve credit, making punctual dealing in every transaction absolutely necessary.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Credit surpasses money as capital.
- Credit is fragile and hard to recover.
- Honesty and industry are credit’s foundation.
CHAPTER XXV: OF THE TRADESMAN’S PUNCTUAL PAYING HIS BILLS AND PROMISSORY NOTES UNDER HIS HAND, AND THE CREDIT HE GAINS BY IT
“Punctual payment is the honour of trade, and there is a word always used among merchants which justifies my using it in this place; and that is, when a merchant draws a bill from abroad upon his friend at London…“
Punctual payment is the “honour of trade”. While some delay is often tolerated in payments for goods bought on time, bills of exchange and promissory notes are sacred, and delays are fatal to credit. If anyone inquires about a tradesman’s credit, the primary question is: “How does he pay his bills?”. A tradesman whose bills are paid punctually acquires an “infinite advantage,” essentially acting as a bank to himself, enabling him to buy bargains and coin his own current notes. He must be careful not to issue notes or allow drafts unless he has effects in hand, to ensure he preserves his reputation.
- Chapter Key Points:
- Bills/notes must be paid punctually.
- Punctuality is the “honour of trade”.
- Failure to pay bills ruins reputation entirely.
Notable Quotes from the Book
- “Interest-money eats deep into the tradesman’s profits, because it is a payment certain, whether the tradesman gets or loses…”.
- “He that is above informing himself when he is in danger, is above pity when he miscarries…”.
- “The diligent hand maketh rich…”.
- “Trade is like a hand-mill, it must always be turned about by the diligent hand of the master…”.
- “If he lives as others do, he breaks, because he spends more than he gets; if he does not, he breaks too, because he loses his credit…”.
- “A sour, morose, dogmatic temper would have sent these ladies both away with their money in their pockets; but the man’s patience and temper drove the lady back…”.
- “The proper hours of business are sacred to the shop and the warehouse”.
- “A tradesman dressed up fine, with his long wig and sword, may go to the ball when he pleases, for he is already dressed up in the habit; like a piece of counterfeit money, he is brass washed over with silver…”.
- “A tradesman without his books, in case of a law-suit for a debt, is like a married woman without her certificate”.
- “If the English nation were to be nearly inquired into, and its present opulence and greatness duly weighed… it is all owing to trade…”.
About the Author
Daniel Defoe is identified as the author of The Complete English Tradesman, first published in 1726. The book focuses heavily on English commerce, identifying tradesmen specifically as warehouse-keepers and shopkeepers involved in the inland trade. Defoe demonstrates a remarkable familiarity with the intricacies of trade, ethics, and financial pitfalls, providing detailed advice on matters ranging from foreign exchanges to customer psychology. He notably argued that the massive wealth and strength of the British nation are primarily due to trade, not military exploits or conquests. (106 words)
How to Get the Most from the Books
Read the advice with a mind willing to be directed. Use these detailed instructions to prudently square your conduct and steer clear of the many pitfalls inherent in business.
Conclusion
The Complete English Tradesman provides timeless counsel for anyone engaged in commerce, framing success not merely as luck, but as the inevitable result of unwavering diligence, profound prudence, and strict integrity. Defoe’s warnings about over-trading and premature marriage remain relevant cautions against stretching capital too thin. Above all, the book emphasizes that credit is sacred, earned through punctuality and honesty, and must be guarded above all assets. The author’s detailed instructions, including the absolute necessity of keeping exact books, offer a powerful, though severe, roadmap for achieving and maintaining prosperity in the commercial world.