Buy low, sell high

To the judge installed by the party to represent the will of the people, he declared. “ I am a merchant of ideas”. The judge condemned him to twenty-five years hard labor. Seemd an unfortunate choice of words. Merchants exploit the working class. Speculators. Profiteers. The essence of capitalism.

Or did the judge have a problem with the selling of ideas. Selling for money? Making a profit on ideas? on ideas people would die for?

Later, for this stand he became a hero to many. But an altar does not certify the god and martyrdom does not verify a philosophy. And "merchant of ideas" I discovered, is a pretty common expression ...