“If you see a Swiss banker jump out of a window, jump right after. There is bound to be a profit in it.”
This famous piece of financial wit perfectly captures a long-held stereotype. It humorously suggests that Swiss bankers possess an unerring instinct for profit. Therefore, even their most desperate acts must conceal a financial opportunity. While the saying is widely known, its true origin is a fascinating puzzle. The quote has traveled through centuries, attaching itself to several prominent historical figures. However, a closer look reveals a story shrouded in mystery and folklore.
Historians have traced the saying through various forms and attributions. Source Its journey shows how a clever idea can evolve and adapt over time. Each retelling adds a new layer, changing details like the location or the potential profit. Consequently, pinpointing the single, true author becomes a difficult task. The evidence often points to posthumous attributions, which makes verification nearly impossible.
The Quest for the Quote’s Creator
The earliest known version of this joke appeared in a London publication. Source This initial printing was in French and attributed the line to Cardinal Richelieu. The French text read, “Si vous voyez un Genevois se jetter par la fenêtre, jettez vous y après; car soyez assuré qu’il y aura douze pour cent à gagner.” This translates to, “If you see a Genevan throw himself out of the window, throw yourself out afterwards; be assured that there will be twelve percent to be gained.”
However, this attribution presents a major chronological problem. Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642. Geneva’s reputation as a major financial center developed much later. Thus, it is highly unlikely he would have made such a specific joke about Genevan bankers. The fact that the attribution appeared 140 years after his death seriously undermines its credibility.
Other Famous Suspects
Another frequently named source is the famous French philosopher Voltaire. People began crediting him with the saying by 1807, nearly three decades after his death in 1778. Similar to the Richelieu claim, no evidence from Voltaire’s own lifetime supports this attribution. Despite his vast collection of writings, this particular quip is nowhere to be found. The connection to Voltaire likely arose because of his reputation for sharp wit and social commentary.
A more plausible candidate is Étienne François de Choiseul, the Duke of Choiseul. He died in 1785, and people attributed the saying to him as early as 1790. This timeline is far more believable. A 1790 publication quoted the Duke as saying, “If a Genevan…throws himself out of a window, one can follow him in complete safety, there is at least five percent to be gained.” This version connects the joke to a figure who could have plausibly originated it.
Evolution of a Financial Proverb
The saying did not remain static. It evolved as it spread across different languages and cultures. For instance, the promised profit margin changed with each retelling. Early versions mentioned five, ten, or twelve percent. Later variations dramatically increased the potential reward. This evolution reflects changing economic contexts and the joke’s adaptation for greater humorous effect.
In 1841, American author Catharine Sedgwick included an English version in her book “Letters from Abroad to Kindred at Home.” Her anonymous version, attributed only to “some wag,” introduced the detail of a “third-story window,” which became a common feature in later tellings. This marks a key moment in the saying’s journey into the English-speaking world. Subsequently, the quote began to appear more frequently in American and British publications.
From Geneva to Zurich and Rothschild
The location within the joke also proved flexible. While early versions specifically mentioned Geneva, later ones shifted the focus. By the 20th century, some versions named Zurich as the home of the profit-seeking banker. For example, a 1967 Newsweek article attributed a Zurich-based version to Voltaire. This change demonstrates the saying’s adaptability, reflecting Zurich’s rising prominence as a global financial hub.
Furthermore, the attributions also modernized over time. An 1859 article in the “Irish Miscellany” of Boston credited the saying to “Rothschild.” This version updated the context by linking the joke to a powerful, contemporary banking dynasty. It also increased the promised profit to fifty percent. This shift shows how the folk wisdom adapted to associate itself with the most famous financial names of the era.
A Timeless Piece of Financial Folklore
Ultimately, modern research concludes that the true author of this witty observation remains unknown. All attributions are posthumous and lack solid contemporary evidence. Instead of a single origin, the saying appears to be a piece of evolving folklore. It cleverly combines a dark joke with a powerful stereotype about Swiss financial shrewdness. This combination has given it remarkable staying power.
The story of this quote serves as a valuable lesson. It shows how popular sayings can acquire false attributions over time. People naturally want to connect a memorable line with a famous name. However, the absence of proof should make us skeptical. The enduring appeal of the joke about the Swiss banker lies not in who said it, but in the timeless and humorous truth it seems to capture about the relentless pursuit of profit.