Trader’s stability

Chapter XII T rader’ s stability A trader should always remain stable, regardless of what faith has in store for him or mishaps he might suffer. Thus, it is a common opinion that a trader should possess the following three qualities: the spine of a donkey – for perseverance, the snout of a pig – to be undemanding when it comes to his palate, and “the ear of a trader” in order to be tolerant and patient. Imprudent, impatient and wanton traders should not even be taken for traders. They would probably make good musicians, because whimsical people generally have an unstable mind and all are naturally inclined to lunacy. In fact, instability is predominately a flaw of feminine character, whereas stability is a masculine virtue. Furthermore, a trader’s intentions must also be steady and firm rather than fickle and thoughtless, as Seneca says in his letter to Lucilius: “The primary evidence of a mind’s serenity is the ability to halt and be alone with one’s own self.” Stable he should remain even if his fortune is fickle, as Boetius says: “ A quality of a stable mind is not being enthralled in the good times, and not being lost when the times are bad.”