"For the merchant, even honesty is a financial speculation"

This quote by Charles Baudelaire recommends that even when a merchant is sincere, they are still making a monetary decision. This indicates that honesty is not constantly a moral option, however rather a calculated decision that will bring the most financial gain. Baudelaire is suggesting that merchants are not always encouraged by ethical principles, however rather by what will bring them the most financial success. This quote implies that merchants are not always honest out of a sense of morality, but rather out of a desire to make the most cash. It recommends that merchants are not constantly motivated by ethical principles, however rather by what will bring them the most monetary success. This quote indicates that merchants are not constantly sincere out of a sense of morality, however rather out of a desire to make the most cash.