Famous quote by Charles E. Wilson

"Furthermore, the spirit of enterprise which had its first intellectual development in England has especially flourished here as well as throughout all of Canada, while the same spirit has become less virile in the land of its origin"

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Charles E. Wilson describes the evolution and migration of the "spirit of enterprise", a phrase that refers to entrepreneurial energy, innovation, and the drive to build new ventures and industries. He traces its intellectual roots to England, historically recognized for its role in sparking the Industrial Revolution and the capitalist ethos that shaped much of modern economic development. England, with its philosophers, inventors, and industrialists, became synonymous with a pioneering energy that transformed not just its own society but the world.

However, Wilson points out a significant transition. He observes how this entrepreneurial spirit has particularly flourished outside of its birthplace, notably in America and throughout Canada. There, the conditions were ripe, vast resources, fewer entrenched hierarchies, and expanding frontiers encouraged risk-taking and innovation. The "spirit of enterprise" became not just a cultural value but a force shaping national identity, leading to rapid industrial and economic growth. In these regions, new arrivals, unburdened by the heavy traditions of their old homes, often embraced self-reliance and initiative. The ability to reinvent oneself, move up the social ladder, and venture into new kinds of businesses was more possible than in class-bound England of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In contrast, Wilson argues that England itself has seen this quality wane, it has become "less virile", meaning less vigorous and dynamic. This suggests a shift: where once England led the world in innovation and economic dynamism, its societal structures and attitudes may have become more rigid, less open to change, and perhaps more risk-averse. It’s an assertion about national character, suggesting that societies can lose as well as gain this vital force, depending on their openness to new ideas, mobility, and adaptability. The result is a subtle commentary on how the epicenter of innovation can relocate and how societies must nurture, not simply inherit, the spirit of enterprise.

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USA Flag This quote is written / told by Charles E. Wilson between November 18, 1886 and January 3, 1972. He/she was a famous Businessman from USA. The author also have 24 other quotes.
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