Merchant

"Another disadvantage, terrible, in my opinion: The merchant is obliged to please. The worker gives his time, the manufacturer his merchandise for a certain amount of money; there you have a simple contract, and one which doesn't require that you lower yourself. Neither one nor the other needs to resort to flattery. He isn't obliged, often with a broken heart and with tears in his eyes, to be agreeable and gay all of a sudden, like that woman at the counter. The worried merchant, mortally occupied with the bill that falls due tomorrow, has to smile, has to lend himself by a cruel effort to the prattle of the elegant young woman who has him unfold a hundred items, talks for two hours and leaves without buying anything."

("Autre désavantage, terrible, à mon avis: Le marchand est obligé de plaire. L'ouvrier donne son temps, le fabricant sa marchandise pour tant d'argent; voilà un contrat simple, et qui n'abaisse pas. Ni l'un ni l'autre n'a besoin de flatter. Il n'est pas obligé, souvent le coeur navré et les yeux pleins de larmes, d'être aimable et gai tout à coup, comme cette dame de comptoir. Le marchand inquiet, mortellement occupé du billet qui échoit demain, il faut qu'il sourie, qu'il se prête, par un effort cruel, au babil de la jeune élégante qui lui fait déplier cent pièces, cause deux heures et part sans acheter.")

Jules Michelet, The People (1846).