“Protestantism made the West not only work, but also save and read. The Industrial Revolution was indeed a product of technological innovation and consumption. But it also required an increase in the intensity and duration of work, combined with the accumulation of capital through saving and investment. Above all, it depended on the accumulation of human capital. The literacy that Protestantism promoted was vital to all of this. On reflection, we would do better to talk about the Protestant word ethic.”

—  Niall Ferguson, book Civilization: The West and the Rest

Civilization: The West and the Rest (2011)

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Niall Ferguson24
British historian 1964

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