Haimy > The gedolei Torah throughout history were Jews who spent their entire lives studying Torah every waking moment.
How can you right something so demonstratably not true? Many amoraim were in business; Rambam was a doctor; Shamai a builder; R Huna had wineries; R Yohanan Hasandaler was a sandaler. It was a privilege given to talmidei chachamim – they were allowed to come to the market and sell before others (Bava Basra). R Salanter wanted to travel beyond the “pale” to visit Yidden there – so instead of doing it illegally like many did, he learned a profession of ink-maker and registered as such. Chofetz Chaim travelled around selling his own books (after making a mark on each sefer after checking that it was printed correctly).