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Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, it was.
Stranger
Str. Now shall we say that there are two sorts of exchange, the one by gift, the other by sale?
Theaetetus
Theaet. So be it.
Stranger
Str. And we shall say further that exchange by sale is divided into two parts.
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Theaetetus
Theaet. How so?
Stranger
Str. We make this distinction—calling the part which sells a man’s own productions the selling of one’s own, and the other, which exchanges the works of others, exchange.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
Stranger
Str. Well, then, that part of exchange which is carried on in the city, amounting to about half of it, is called retailing, is it not?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes.
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Stranger
Str. And that which exchanges goods from city to city by purchase and sale is called merchandising?
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
Stranger
Str. And have we not observed that one part of merchandising sells and exchanges for cash whatever serves the body for its support and needs, and the other whatever serves the soul?
Theaetetus
Theaet. What do you mean by that?
Stranger
Str. Perhaps we do not know about the part that has to do with the soul; though I fancy we do understand the other division.
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